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PRACTICAL POLICE WORK 

What To Do and How To Do It 



BY 
Lieutenant JAMES J. SKEHAN 

Police Department, City of New Yoi k 

and 

JAMES P. CONWAY, Attorney-at-Law 

Former Assistant Chief Examiner 

Municipal Civil Service Commission 



1919 

JAMES P. CONWAY 

PUBLISHER 

20 East 42nd Street 

New York 



Copyright, 1919 

By 
James J. Skehan 

and 
James P. Conway 



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©CU&30629 

Recorded 



INTRODUCTION 

The aim of this volume is four-fold — to collect within the 
covers of a single book the vast and varied amount of miscella- 
neous matter, having any degree of permanency, which consti- 
tute the sum total of essential police knowledge ; to instruct 
policeman on how to use and apply their acquired knowledge; 
to present facts simply and clearly and give the law without the 
use of legal language which clouds the meaning. 

The authors have had large experience in teaching and ex- 
amining policemen and are familiar with their defects and per- 
fections. One of these defects is a disposition to look for minor 
errors and to draw fine technical distinctions. 

Of far more importance is the assembling and classification 
of information, the memorizing of facts and the drawing of 
correct conclusions. In these matters the book will be of more 
help to policemen than any other work available ; that it contains 
more useful police knowledge than is otherwise obtainable handily, 
we expect the reader to discover for himself. It is issued solely 
on account of the information it contains. 

James J. Skehan, 
James P. Conway. 



CONTENTS 

FOREWORD— EXAMINATION ....... 7 

CHAPTER I 
HOW TO LEARN 13 

CHAPTER II 
GENERAL PRINCIPLES OF THE LAWS .... 19 

CHAPTER III 
PROCEDURE, ETC . . 39 

CHAPTER IV 
COURTS— JURISDICTION 56 

CHAPTER V 
EVIDENCE, PROCESSES, ETC . 65 

CHAPTER^I 
EXTRADITION 77 

CHAPTER VII 
HOMICIDE, ARSON, ASSAULT, ETC. 81 

CHAPTER VIII 
CRIMES— RIOTS TO ROBBERY 106 

CHAPTER IX. 
BRIBERY, ETC. 135 

CHAPTER X 
SOCIAL CRIMES 148 

CHAPTER XI 
MISCELLANEOUS OFFENCES 171 

CHAPTER XII 
ORDINANCES 214 

CHAPTER XIII 
QUESTIONS ON ORDINANCES 222 

CHAPTER XIV ' 
RULES ....<..... 234 

CHAPTER XV 
REPORTS ....,;.. , - .• . ." 252 

INDEX 275 



FOREWORD 
EXAMINATIONS 

The art of passing a good examination in writing has to be 
acquired by practice. Persons who fail to do as well as their 
fellows frequently complain that they knew more but could not 
convey the knowledge. This happens sometimes but the best 
informed man as a general rule makes the best showing provided 
he has acquired the habit of analyzing things and the art of 
expressing himself in writing. 

Analyzing the meaning of questions is sometimes difficult 
especially when the questions are ambiguous, tautological or 
vague and they are sometimes all three. To men with only a 
common school education the unusual words often employed by 
college men in putting questions are not understandable. This 
introduces a puzzling element hard to overcome. 

Analyzing a question calls for the exercise of thought in 
getting at its meaning and in .seeing all its sides and angles. 
It is hopeless to expect to make a good answer without first get- 
ting at the exact meaning of the question. 

When there is no doubt as to the question's meaning a direct 
answer should be given and one that is as exact as possible. 
Giving the question other and unwarranted meanings indicates a 
lack of intelligence in the person answering, and as intelligence 
is one of the qualities being tested in a candidate, lack of it under 
the circumstances will call for a low rating. Should there be 
some= doubt as to the meaning "of a question it is a good plan 
to begin the answer by setting- forth the meaning as the candidate 
understands it. This will entail" loss of time but not as much 
as if the question is to be answered in the alternative. Answering 
in the alternative has to be resorted to sometimes when the ques- 
tion is too general and incomplete and when several sets 
of conditions might be set 'forth in the answer. Under these cir- 
cumstances the candidate is justified in saying "If such and such 
were the case, so and so should be done but if so and so were 
the case such and such should be done." 

Generally speaking, however, there is too great a disposition 
to use "ifs" in examinations. They are used when the mean- 



8 PRACTICAL POLICE WORK 

ing of the question is perfectly clear and they are made use of 
when the candidate should have seen that there was no excuse 
for them. They betray lack of self-confidence when they do not 
•betray lack of intelligence and the unrestrained practice of an- 
swering in that fashion means loss of time in the examination 
room which could generally be used with advantage in giving 
pertinent and material facts. 

To pass a good examination then, three things are neces- 
sary : Ability to understand and analyze the question, knowledge 
of the facts to go into the answer and the art of giving expression 
to such knowledge in writing. Training and reasoning are neces- 
sary to beget proper thinking, memory must be called into action 
for calling up information stored in the brain and continuous 
practice is needed in all three departments. 

Let it be understood then that thinking, memory and prac- 
tice are the three most important essentials to the passing of a 
good examination. They are all that is necessary but they are 
vitally necessary. Let no man deceive himself into believing 
that he can succeed without the use of all three. 

Thinking and Memorizing 

Concentrated thinking is difficult. Let him who does not 
believe so try the effort of following everything another man 
says for two minutes without allowing some other thought to 
enter his mind. While that seems easy, yet to many persons 
it is impossible. Memorizing is very essential but memorizing 
should be done properly to make it useful. Generally speaking it 
is a bad plan to try to memorize the words in a text. The mem- 
orizing of commonplace words, especially by a man untrained 
and past thirty is one of the rrjgst difficult tasks imaginable, but 
the memorizing of facts or the substance of the matter oan be 
accomplished by intelligent effort and application. 

The value of an intelligent system in memorizing is generally 
recognized. The man who would try to remember the names of 
the twenty children in the families of Smith, Brown and Jones 
would come across a difficulty that could be simplified by remem- 
bering first the names of the Smith children, next the names 
of the Brown children and lastly the names of those owning to 
a Jones paternity. This is simply classification and grouping 
or arranging of subjects into classes which will be of the first 
assistance as an aid to the memory. The memory can also be 
helped out by the old method of visualizing and association of 



PRACTICAL POLICE WORK 9 

ideas, that is connecting something in the mind's eye with some 
other thing that one wishes to recall. If a policeman or fireman 
should be asked to name the things that must not be done in 
quarters he naturally would be able to call to mind easily one 
demoralizing practice such as drinking; this would by associa- 
tion call up smoking, entertaining women and a long line of 
conduct prejudicial to good order and discipline. The memory 
can also be assisted by the use of reason. In case a man has 
forgotten what certain rules or laws require he can ask him- 
self the question what ought to be there and by working out of 
his own intelligence the facts that reason tells him should be 
present he may be able to give a satisfactory answer. 

No rule can be given that will enable a man to write out facts- 
within his knowledge with ease that does not take into account 
Practice. The most facile writers are those who write most, other 
things being the same. The art of giving expression to thoughts 
in writing cannot be acquired except by practice. No amount 
of grammar or rhetoric will suffice and the more a person writes 
the better he writes. The day he stops he begins to rust. 

What to Do — How to Do It • 

What is the thing to be done and how must it be done are dis- 
tinct conditions not generally recognized. Candidates in exam- 
inations are prone to mix them. They should be kept separate. 
What do you know of the subject and what should be done about 
it are often different parts of the same question. They illustrate 
to an extent substance and procedure. It happens quite often 
that the person familiar with the subject matter is not familiar 
with the procedure. It happens also occasionally that the man 
acquainted with procedure is able to tell how a thing should be 
done and not able himself to do it. This illustrates theory and 
practice and the reason he cannot do what he knows is because 
training and skill can be acquired onfy by practice. It is only a 
genius who can build a piano by learning from a book how it may 
be built or merely watching another person building it. 

A policeman must be able to recognize conditions that are 
wrong and know what to do to right them. For the purpose of 
passing an examination for promotion he should be able to see 
what is asked of him and write what he knows with ease and 
fluency. If unable to recognize a wrongful condition when he 
sees it, or unable to see it when told of it or unable to distin- 
guish the right thing to do or unable to explain his decision in 



io PRACTICAL POLICE WORK 

writing, then he is unable to pass an examination. In these cases 
he must learn and seek training. 

There are men who can get along by their own efforts and 
others who need assistance and direction. There are some whose 
memories are retentive and others with memories like a sieve, 
but holes in the sieve can be plugged up if enough knowledge is 
poured in. There are men who reason logically from cause to 
effect; there are others whose minds seem to work backward 
or sideways like a jumping kangaroo and these cannot learn until 
they are set on the right path and taught to go from one subject 
to another in logical order. 

The aim of this chapter is not to give an unassimilated -multi- 
tude of details but to give general principles by which details 
may be recognized. There are thousands of things which a po- 
liceman is required to know that no reasonable person will expect 
him to learn by memory. 

Just as no lawyer knows all about the law but does or should 
know general principles which either lead him to the correct 
conclusion or direct his attention to where the details are to be 
found, so no policeman can be expected to remember all the 
details of his duties but should know certain general principles 
to guide him in reaching the right solution of any police problem 
that presents itself. 

The mere learning of rules by rote is not enough. In itself 
it is of little or no use. To be of use a rule must be applied and 
its application again calls for thought and action. Since one aim 
of this work is to teach the way to prepare for and pass civil 
service examination the details to be used will be such as will- 
serve the purpose of illustration. 

Cardinal Requirements 

There are three cardinal requirements for the passing of a 
good examination — ability to understand what is asked, knozvledge 
of the subject matter and ability to give the answer clearly in 
writing. The first and last are overlooked too often. Dependence 
is generally placed upon the second. Men have been known, able 
to repeat the rules from cover to cover, familiar with the Codes 
tc the extent of knowing their contents verbatim, able to name 
the page and the number of the section where a specific piece of 
information was to be found, who never could do well enough in 
their examinations to get a place on the list from which they 
could be appointed. Obviously their failing was not in lack of 



PRACTICAL POLICE WORK u 

knowledge of the subject matter. It must have been due to one 
or the other causes. 

Every question in a Civil Service examination can be broadly 
divided into two classes — Substance and Action. A great many 
candidates do not distinguish the difference between these. They 
take action when called upon to give the substance of a rule or 
law and in the process of answering forget what they were asked 
about. 

The difference between substance and action is well illustrated 
in the two Codes — The Penal Law defines crimes while the Crim- 
inal Code prescribes the action to be taken when crime has been 
committed. 

The rules of the Department lay down principle as well as 
prescribe the action that should be taken. When properly drawn 
this distinction should be made clear. 



PRACTICAL POLICE WORK 

CHAPTER I 
HOW TO LEARN 

A policeman must first know what is wrong and then know 
what to do about it. That invites the question how is he to know. 
He can know only by learning and he learns only through the eye 
or the ear. He can read the matter in print or hear it explained 
or he can do both which is preferable. 

In case a man confines himself to reading he must try to mem- 
orize as well as to understand. Neither one is quite enough in 
itself. Take for example the five general and fundamental du- 
ties — Preserve the Peace, Prevent Crime, Protect Life and Prop- 
erty, Enforce Laws and Ordinance, Detect Crime and Arrest Vio- 
lators of the Law. These of course should be remembered, but 
they should also be understood and the best way to understand 
them is for a man to think out for himself as many examples of 
■each as he can. When that is done he will have received a lasting 
impression of the meaning of each. 

The next essential thing is to remember that there are various 
weapons furnished to a policeman to enable him to perform these 
five fundamental duties and that they vary from the giving of in- 
formation to the making of an arrest. The man who studies 
properly will ask himself under what conditions he can or 
should use one of these weapons and when another and write out 
Ms answers. 

The making of an arrest is the final and most important of 
these weapons. For that reason to know that no arrest can be 
made except in accordance ivith law is quite as important as to 
Itnow the law of arrest. 

The law of arrest is contained in the Criminal Code which also 
tells that in the making of an arrest there must be an act and a 
purpose, the act being the taking of the accused into custody, the 
purpose being to have him answer for a crime. Every act of 
taking into custody, therefore, is not an arrest. This distinction 
if kept in mind will keep men from bothering about extra tech- 

13 



I 4 PRACTICAL POLICE WORK 

nical situations which is the bane of so many, such as the arrest 
of a material witness. 

It will be shown that the Law of Arrest distinguishes between 
felonies or States prison offences and misdemeanors punishable 
in a lesser degree, that when the crime is a misdemeanor it must 
either be committed in the officer's presence, at or about the time 
of arrest, or the officer must have a warrant from a magistrate. 
When made for a felony there must have been a felony committed 
with knowledge of its commission or at least reasonable grounds- 
to suspect; or as an alternative there must be a warrant. 

Xow the way to understand all about the power to make ar- 
rest is for a policeman to ask himself for examples — various ex- 
amples without being hair splitting and he will soon learn. If he 
knows that "in his presence" means within his sight, or within 
his hearing when he goes to the spot immediately or where the 
crime is continuous as in the case of stolen property carried by 
the thief he will know as a consequence that even though glass 
intervenes he can go through it to make the arrest even in the. 
case of a misdemeanor. 

Guide to Grade of Crime 

The best guide of the grade of the crime is the Penal Law,., 
but if that be not handy most felonies can be distinguished in 
other ways. Either they are crimes against the person or against 
property, against morality or against the public welfare. If felo- 
nies, they endangered life, or did serious damage, or there was- 
the probability of their doing so, as there were the bad or evil 
conditions of the mind called intent. To pick out a felony then 
a policeman should ask? Was the damage serious? Was the 
means used likely to have made it serious? Was there evil intent? 

Since most crimes are committed against either the person 
or the property of another (excepting those regulating public 
morals and the pubilc welfare) this gives a basis from which to 
start and the two fundamental methods of committing such 
crimes, Assault and Larceny, are the points from which a start 
can be made in the process of reasoning. No policeman should 
bother at the outset with trying to learn the different degrees of 
these or any other crimes. Difference of degree is mostly for the 
District Attorney, the Grand Jury and the Judge to consider. 
The policeman should determine for the purposes of arrest 
whether the crime is a felony or a misdemeanor. Consider as- 
sault. It is either simple or felonious, a misdemeanor or a felony _ 



PR ACTICAL POLICE WORK 15 

Now apply the rule to determine which it is. First, the nature 
and character of it. Second, the conditions under which it zvas> 
made or the manner of the making. T^ird, the malice or intent 
exhibited. To satisfy the first condition, to be felonious the in- 
jured person must have received grievous bodily harm; the second 
can be satisfied if the weapon or means used was capable of in- 
flicting serious bodily harm even though such harm did not come 
from it ; the third calls for a wrongful intent or bad mind. While 
intent in most cases can be presumed from the nature of the 
crime there are other" cases in which it must be specific as in the 
•case of assault by drugs where the intent may be either to do 
serious bodily harm or to enable the perpetrator to commit an- 
other crime. No crime can be a felony without this wrongful 
intent to which the passions give rise. 

Guiding Elements 

Then we have the three elements to guide us. Is the damage 
serious and was the commission intentional? If so it is a felony, 
no matter how committed. Was it committed through a means 
likely to produce serious bodily harm? If so it is a felony 
whether serious bodily harm resulted or not. Was the perpe- 
trator in a vicious mood at the time or did he have either of the 
specific intents mentioned at the time of commission? 

The bad condition of the mind will make the crime a felony 
if the person should be injured without intention when the per- 
petrator is committing another felony. The bad intent makes 
-even a slight assault a felony when the prevention of or resistance 
to an arrest or the execution of a court process is the motive which 
prompted it. If the foregoing conditions are not present and 
little injury is done then the assault is simple and a misdemeanor. 

Now take Larceny, the other fundamental crime — against 
property. It can be either a felony or misdemeanor depending 
generally upon the amount taken, the time and place of taking 
and the manner of the taking. If a large amount — over $50 is 
taken serious injury is done. If the time be the night and the 
place a dwelling house there is greater deliberation, more evil 
intent indicated and a less amount makes a felony. If property 
be taken from the person the manner of taking indicates an evil 
desperate person willing to take the chance of committing another 
crime to defend its possession. 

Most crimes defined in the Penal Law are committed against 
-either the person or the property of another and most of them 



16 PRACTICAL POLICE WORK 

are allied either with assault or with larceny. Such laws have 
been made necessary because the courts have been over-technical 
in their definitions and because criminals have from time to 
time invented ways of committing crime that did not come under 
the then existing laws owing to such hyper-technical interpreta- 
tions. 

Power of Arrest 

We have seen that the final and most powerful weapon in 
the hands of a policeman is the power of arrest. That means the 
right to use force either to take the accused into custody or to 
get at him. Force means the power to break into a building when 
the power to arrest exists but it must be used with discretion 
when necessary only, and not to a greater degree than is abso- 
lutely necessary to affect the taking. 

There remains the warrant which is a power given by a Magis- 
trate who may be a Judge of a higher criminal court and which 
is issued in misdemeanor cases to accomplish an arrest not made 
at the time of the crime, and in felony cases when the crime was 
not obvious to the officers. Since a magistrate has to use care to 
make certain of the crime before issuing a warrant, the police- 
man who executes it is relieved of responsibility, but he must have 
the warrant with him to arrest under its authority. The accuser is 
under arrest when taken into custody or when he submits by 
consent, not before. 

A warrant differs from a summons both in its tenor and in the 
nature of the cases to which it applies. The summons is used in 
case of petty offences such as violations of the city ordinances or 
trivial misdemeanors as well as in violations of the Motor Ve- 
hicle Law. It says directly to the accused (( Come in" or you will 
have to while a warrant is addressed to the Peace Officer and 
directs him to "bring in" the accused. 

Summonses have been issued from time immemorial to save 
the accused from unnecessary punishment and humiliation and 
to save the people unnecessary trouble and expense when only 
petty offences are concerned which even though sometimes defined 
as crime are not of a criminal nature. They are issued in Motor 
Vehicle cases, for example, when identification is made because 
first the driver is responsible, second because there is generally a 
presumption against wrong doing and in favor of accident in such 
cases, and third because the punishment to the parties concerned 
would be frequently too great if an arrest zuere made. But they 



PRACTICAL POLICE WORK 17 

are not to be made use of zvhere there is positive evidence of neg- 
ligence of the kind classed as criminal. They are not to be made 
use of where a feal crime involving knowledge of wrongdoing 
exists as distinguishel from a technical crime, acts which though 
violative of the law are not criminal, the Penal Law to the con- 
trary notwithstanding. The blank summons issued to policemen 
is in effect issued by the Chief Magistrate. Since Bench war- 
rants issue after an indictment, or to re-commit a person already 
on bail and they commit the accused directly to prison, bail cannot 
be taken by a Desk Officer. 

Review of Crimes 

A policeman is but little concerned practically with the tech- 
nical difference between a principal and an accessory excepting in 
so far as it shows him that a person can become guilty of a crime 
who knew nothing about it at the time it was committed, but be- 
comes guilty in case he aids or harbors the accused afterwards 
with the intention to have him escape arrest or punishment, pro- 
vided he knows or has reason to suspect the man's guilt. Neither 
is the distinction between the commission of a crime and the at- 
tempt to commit it so important to the policeman, as he can arrest 
for an attempt just as for the commission. In both the above 
cases the distinction is more important to the court than to the 
policeman. The grade of the crime is the same, the punishment 
only is different. 

It is quite important that a policeman should know that others 
can be guilty as well as the actual perpetrator, viz., the plotter 
or procurer and the aider or abettor, and that mere intent 
to commit a crime if not accompanied by an act is not a crime. 
In this respect crimes are to be distinguished from sins. 

The only thing essential for the ordinary policeman to know 
about bail is that in the case of misdemeanors Desk Officers can 
take it, under certain conditions, but that in practically all cases 
it is the function of a magistrate. A policeman who comes with 
a warrant ought to be able to identify the signature of the magis- 
trate who issues a warrant to the magistrate who endorses it for 
execution in the county where the latter has jurisdiction. 

It is because of the inconveniences and unnecessary punish- 
ment of the accused that warrants for misdemeanors are not to 
be executed at night time or on Sundays unless the magistrate 
directs it in writing. 



18 PRACTICAL POLICE WORK 

Search warrants are very important things to be remembered 
about. They are issued either to recover stolen property, to get 
property that has been used in the commission of a felony or that 
is intended to be used as such; that the property must be fully 
identified before a magistrate will issue a warrant and when the 
property is taken the policeman should leave a receipt for it. 

The question which puzzles policemen most is the nature of 
the knowledge of the commission of a felony they must have 
before making an arrest. It will bear to be repeated that it need 
not necessarily be personal knowledge, but it must be more than 
suspicion. The statements of reliable third persons corroborated 
by other facts, official communications from the police of this or 
other States, evidences that convince him or would convince a 
reasonable person is sufficient. On that point there is no absolute 
rule to guide. 

The Policeman as a Social Adviser 

Since a policeman is required to give information and assist- 
ance to the inquiring public he ought to know and be able to di- 
rect those who are ignorant. If a woman complains of being 
abused by her husband he should know that the nearest Magis- 
trate Court is the proper place to go; if non-support be charged 
then she should be directed to the Domestic Relations Court; if 
a child be the offender, the Children's Court ; if a person fail to 
pay a domestic's wages, the nearest Municipal Court. The pa- 
trolman in such cases should be able to give information regard- 
ing the assistance to be obtained from the Bureau of Domestic 
Relations, the Children's Society or the Legal Aid Society, and 
consequently should be able to answer questions on these matters, 
Because he frequently has to appear in the minor criminal courts, 
the Traffic Court, the Night Court, and Special Sessions, he should 
know the extent of the jurisdiction of each and the police pro- 
cedure to be followed. Knowledge of the higher courts is neces- 
sary only as an academic question. 



CHAPTER II 

GENERAL PRINCIPLES OF THE LAWS 

Malicious Mischief 

Malicious mischief partakes of the nature of a crime both 
against property and against the person. The motive, however, is 
not gain. It is either a felony or misdemeanor depending upon 
its gravity. If it be one where human life is endangered or prop- 
erty put in serious danger and there is a malicious intent present, 
it is stamped at once as a felony. To such a class belongs certain 
injury to a church or irreparable destruction of an election re- 
turn, the setting off of an explosive in a ship with persons aboard, 
the burning of crops, forests, buildings, the changing of lights or 
signals on railroads. If the offence, however, be one that just 
annoys or causes slight loss or damage 'even though intentional it 
is only a misdemeanor. To this class would belong interference 
with message carrying wires, signs on highways, slight injury to 
public structures, interference with fire hydrants, false fire alarms, 
destruction to trees or real property, injury to a merchandisable 
ice pond, or shell fish bed, killing game in a cemetery, putting up 
a shanty on another's property, driving dangerous animals on a 
street or roadway without warning, damaging an automobile, 
taking fish from a preserve, injuring an arsenal, trespassing upon 
a rifle range, cutting cables used for anchorage, using the Ameri- 
can flag for advertising, injuring growing crops, removing books 
from a library, disfigurinng monuments. 

Crimes Against the Person 

Challenging to fight, carrying dangerous weapons and disor- 
derly conduct are prohibited because otherwise they lead to in- 
jury to the person or are likely to. Duelling is the consumma- 
tion of a challenge to fight, maiming and mayhem, aggravated 
assaults which result in permanent injury to an organ ; prize 
fighting is demoralizing as well as injurious to the participants 
and homicide the most serious result that can arise from assault. 

19 



20 PRACTICAL POLICE WORK 

As a practical proposition a policeman is not much concerned 
with the distinction the law makes in classifying homicide into 
four kinds. He already knows that every assault is not a crime 
and neither is every homicide, and for the purpose of arrest it is 
not important whether murder or manslaughter is to be charged. 
For the purpose of evidence it is more or less important, but of 
that later. Excusable and justifiable homicide are for others to 
determine. 

Crimes Against Property 

Crimes against the person are not nearly as numerous as crimes 
against property. Some are against both. The desire to possess 
the property of others is the most potent agency for the commis- 
sion of crime. Out of that motive or desire come crimes against 
the person and crimes against the community, and crimes in which 
other motives crop out. 

Blackmail, bribery and corruption, burglary, business frauds, 
cheating, obtaining money under false pretenses, coining or coun- 
terfeiting, receiving stolen property, extortion, forgery, cheating 
hotel keepers, larceny, using false weights and measures, and a 
host of others with a more limited application all have the same 
general intent underlying them, viz. : the getting of another's 
property without being by right entitled to it. They belong to the 
class known as crimes against property. 

In the case of larceny there is an act — the taking of property 
of another, and an intent — to defraud the owner of its use or 
benefit and appropriate it to one's own use or the use of another. 
If these elements are present the crime of larceny is present and 
a policeman in working out a particular case can apply the rule 
and determine the crime. The main difference between larceny 
and extortion for example is the consent of the owner of the 
property. In larceny he parts with it without consent; in extor- 
tion it is with his consent, but the consent in extortion is forced 
or obtained by fear or by pretence of exercising official authority 
whether the extortioner be an official or not. Then the main 
difference between extortion and blackmail is that blackmail is 
practically only attempted extortion in writing. In extortion the 
culprit got the property, in blackmail he tried to get it through a 
threatening letter but failed. 

When a man is put in fear of personal injury to himself or to 
a relative, or of being accused of a crime; a deformity or a dis- 
grace exposed, a secret concerning himself or a relative made 



PRACTICAL POLICE WORK 21 

public, himself or a relative kidnapped or injury done to his or 
their property, the law concerning being "put in fear" is violated. 

But after all the main thing for a policeman to know about 
extortion and blackmail is that the criminal got or tried to get ] 
another person's property and that he made the other person give 
up through fear, or under the pretence of the offender being an 
official of some kind. When that is established it is easy to 
decide on how to act. 

Crimes against morals are distinct from crimes against the 
person and against property inasmuch as they are violative of 
laws designed to prevent the moral degradation of the person 
concerned directly, or of others indirectly. Consequently some 
of these crimes are directly harmful ; others indirectly so or likely 
to lead to harm. In this category can be placed the sex crimes, 
gambling, indecency, obscenity and others. Again there is a class 
of crimes which offend not directly against an individual but 
against the general public which if not prohibited would result in 
injury to the individual. In this class belong offences relating 
to civil rights, various kinds of conspiracies, those covered by the 
election law, public nuisances, interference with traffic, offences 
against the public health, against public justice, public records and 
various others. 

With these latter classes as with the crimes against persons 
and property the policeman should be guided by the gravity of 
the offence, the intent of the doer and frequently by the manner 
in which tUe thing is done whenever he intends to make an arrest 
and does not know definitely whether or not the law makes the 
crime under consideration a felony or a misdemeanor. 

Let us apply these rules to some of the crimes with which a 
policeman has to deal. Take the kindred crimes of abduction and 
kidnapping. The gravity of the offence is manifest. Therefore 
both must be felonies and a policeman should arrest whenever he 
knows either has been committed and has at least reasonable 
grounds to believe a certain person did it. The only practical 
difference between kidnapping and abduction lies in the motive. 
Abduction can be perpetrated only against a zvoman and the sex 
motive must be present. There are three kinds of women who 
may be abducted differently. The woman under eighteen even, 
for marriage without her parents' consent ; the chaste woman over 
eighteen who has been enticed or inveigled into a place, and the 
woman over eighteen, chaste or otherwise who had been taken 
away by force. 



22 PRACTICAL POLICE WORK 

In abduction the two main elements are the taking and.tH& 
motive. In kidnapping there is a taking, but the motive is usually 
gain. The taking or keeping must be against the will, but a child 
under twelve cannot consent to go. With a child under sixteen, 
however, there may be one of several motives such as an intent to 
conceal, to extort money for its return or to steal from its person. 

Anarchy 

One of the odd crimes on the statute book is that designated 
as criminal anarchy. Anarchy itself is a doctrine and is not a 
crime. It is a doctrine which advocates the overthrow of organ- 
ized government. So long as anarchists advise their followers to 
carry out the doctrine by lawful means such as amending the 
United States Constitution it is no crime, but when they advise 
by word or writing that such a thing should be carried out by 
force or violence or the assassination of an executive they commit 
crime. Some persons are erroneously of the opinion that to ad- 
vocate the assassination of an executive such as the President 
is criminal anarchy, but that is not so unless it be advocated for 
the purpose of bringing about the overthrow of organized gov- 
ernment. 

For practical police purposes, however, it makes little differ- 
ence what the motive is when a man advocates the assassination 
of another. He should be arrested. 

Children and Animals 

The humane feelings of the community in contra-distinction to 
the brutal tendencies of the individual has prompted the State to 
make laws for the protection of children and animals which are 
unable to protect themselves. There are special peace officers 
for the enforcement of these laws with whom policemen are re- 
quired to co-operate. By law every person under sixteen is a child 
and entitled to the protection of parent or guardian. Xow if a 
child is abandoned or left destitute without food, clothing or 
shelter it is quite evident that a grave offence has been committed 
and grave offence is a felony, and a policeman can arrest for a 
felony when it has been committed and he knows it or has rea- 
sonable grounds to believe it. But if the child is not abandoned, 
even though not provided for, the offence is not so grave and is 
only a misdemeanor. Children can be offended against in other 
ways. Occupation that endangers their health or safety or im- 



PRACTICAL POLICE WORK 23 

pairs their morals, amusement that let them into theatres, dance 
halls, bowling alleys, concert halls, skating rinks, billiard rooms, 
saloons, moving picture places unaccompanied by a parent or 
somebody who can stand in the parents' stead is forbidden, be- 
cause it is dangerous. Not being grave, it is only a misdemeanor. 

The brute that is in man has been responsible for making 
combative animals fight. It has frequently kept them without 
food, drink or sustenance. It has cruelly beaten, maimed and in- 
jured them. It has, when they could no longer serve his pur- 
pose, left them abandoned to die in torture. These things are now 
forbidden by law. They are not reckoned grave and are misde- 
meanors. There is only one offence in connection with animals 
which is a felony and that is the poisoning of domestic cattle. 
Obviously in this last there is the property damage involved with 
the bad mind that a person must have zvho would commit such a 
deed. And yet the poisoning of a dog however valuable is only 
a misdemeanor. 



Burglary 

Burglary is a crime against which police are always on guard. 
It is one of the most important they have to deal with, both 
because of its frequency and its gravity. A burglar is mostly a 
desperate thief. It is an aggravated form of larceny and because 
of its gravity and the bad mind that prompts it is always felo- 
nious. The crime originally was the breaking into a dwelling 
house in the night time to steal, but the definition has been very 
broadly extended by statute in this State. There still must be 
a breaking, an entering and the evil intent, but these words have 
been given a meaning very much wider than the dictionary 
meaning which will be described later. 

Another matter about which policemen worry unnecessarily 
is the crime of compounding a crime. From an academic stand- 
point it is interesting to them, from a practical standpoint inter- 
esting to the District Attorney. It is either a felony or misde- 
meanor depending on the grade of the original crime compounded: 
It just means giving up something as a consideration for the 
accused agreeing to conceal or keep out testimony, or to abstain 
from prosecuting, and the consideration may be money or any- 
thing of value. Taking back stolen goods is, however, no consid- 
eration if no favor be shown the thief. 



24 PRACTICAL POLICE WORK 

Conspiracy 

An arrest for the crime of conspiracy is rarely or ever made 
except upon a warrant. In the first place it is only a misdemeanor 
and in the ntxt its commission is not obvious. There is more or 
less secrecy about it. There must be two or more persons in- 
volved and they must conspire. The object of their conspiracy 
may be to indict another, commit a crime, bring a lawsuit, cheat 
somebody, to keep him from attending to his lawful business by 
force, threats, intimidation or injury. Such is conspiracy against 
an individual. Then there is conspiracy against the public inter- 
est by agreement to do an act injurious to the public health, 
morals, trade, commerce, justice or laws. But merely talking 
the matter over or even agreeing to do it is not enough except in 
the cases of felonies upon the person, arson or burglary. In all 
others an open act towards their perpetration must be done before 
conspiracy can be charged. 

Disorderly Conduct 

Formerly whenever a policeman did not know exactly what 
to charge against a person he made it disorderly conduct. There 
is such a crime, though its existence was long disputed. It con- 
sists either of an act or speech, the use of any threatening or in- 
sulting behavior intended or likely to provoke a breach of the 
peace; or offensive or disorderly act or language that annoys or 
interferes with others in any public place, or a disorderly refusal 
to abide by an orderly ruling by a person in authority. That rule 
is not hard to understand or apply. It will work even in offences 
specially designated as disorderly conduct by statute as in the case 
of street walkers. 

Forgery 

A very grave felonious crime is forgery, but not very impor- 
tant to the policeman from a practical standpoint as its commis- 
oion is not obvious. Here again there is an act with the intent 
to defraud. Although the common method of committing for- 
gery is to imitate another's signature with the intent to defraud, 
yet the crime could be committed by writing an instrument over 
a genuine signature, by alterations or obliterating or piecing to- 
gether. It can arise through the making of a plate or stamp or 
failure to make an entry in certain instances. 



PRACTICAL POLICE WORK z$ 

Gambling 

Gambling although not necessarily nor essentially criminal, 
gives the police more concern than others that are. The reason 
for this is that not being condemned by the Bible nor the moral 
law very many people do not regard gambling as wrong and 
refuse to abide by the law. Embraced under the general heads 
of gambling may be considered policy, horse racing, lottery and 
the like. 

Although the statute does not plainly say so, the crime of 
gambling is restricted to such places as those where there is a 
profit to an outsider. This leaves out friendly games even when 
played for money. There are also certain places where it is a 
crime to keep gambling paraphernalia because of the possibility 
of danger or demoralization or because of the scandal possible. 
Churches, courts, polling places, military camps, educational in- 
stitutions, and cars and vessels are examples. 

Gambling may be a felony, a misdemeanor or no crime. A 
general rule to help is that the profiteer is generally a felon, 
provided he engineers the game or acts directly for one who 
does. Those who aid indirectly are sometimes misdemeanants, 
sometimes felons, and those who go up against the game are 
victims but not criminals, one of the few cases where all parties 
concerned are not criminals. The possession of policy slips is 
presumptive evidence of intent, but not criminal if the presump- 
tion can be overcome. 

In lottery the contriver or manager of the scheme is a felon, 
while all those who help out are only misdemeanants and the 
crime exists whenever there is a plan to distribute property 
by chance among those who have paid a valuable consideration 
for it. It does not excuse if the lottery is conducted under the 
auspices of the State or another country. 

Indecency 

Indecency shocks sex morality. The laws against it are 
enacted in the interest of morality. The term applies to anything 
that will excite to lust or sex offences. It includes the exhibition 
of pictures, print or exposures and plays of a lewd, lascivious 
■or filthy character or the dissemination of reading matter with 
lustful or criminal stories. Being only a misdemeanor this class 
of crime invites arrest only when committed in the presence, but 
.apart from this fact there are other difficulties. The principal 



26 PRACTICAL POLICE WORK 

one is to determine whether or not the thing is indecent. That 
does not always depend upon the matter but upon outside condi- 
tions. Again what may appear indecent to some is not apparently 
so to others. Since there are no exact standards with which to 
judge whether a play, exhibition, book or picture is indecent 
the safest plan for a policeman who is not an expert, is to report 
the fact so that a warrant may be procured and the responsi- 
bility placed upon a magistrate. When the thing is indecent be- 
yond question he should arrest the party responsible. A recent 
addition to this class of crimes is advertisements for the treat- 
ment of private diseases. They also include the advocacy of 
birth control and the doing of anything calculated to facilitate 
sex immorality. 

Intoxication 

It is not a crime to get drunk in one's own house or club 
or the home of a friend. It becomes a crime when intoxication 
is public. There never was an authoritative definition of drunk- 
enness or intoxication that was not disputed. The safest plan 
for a policeman is not to interfere with a man under the influence 
so long as he can help himself. Being drunk and in charge of an 
engine or vehicle endangering others is criminal. 

Nuisances 

The policeman should distinguish between public nuisances 
and private nuisances. All nuisances are annoyance but all nui- 
sances are not crimes. Before one becomes a crime the public 
must be annoyed, endangered or injured. The public is com- 
posed of "Any considerable number of persons. A\ consid- 
erable number means at least three. How must these persons 
be annoyed? In their comfort or repose. How endangered 
or injured? In their health. How can the community suffer a 
nuisance? By any condition that offends public decency, ob- 
structs traffic or navigation or renders thtee or more persons' 
insecure in life and property. The crime has been broadened 
to take in opium joints and offices where passage tickets are 
sold unlawfully. 

Policemen have a great deal to do with nuisances either by 
themselves or in co-operation with other departments. They are 
not classed as serious crimes but being so numerous and of such 
a variety they occupy a great deal of a policeman's time and 
call forth the exercise of every weapon at his disposal from ad- 



PRACTICAL POLICE WORK 27 

monition to the making of an arrest. They also demand dis- 
cretion as a nuisance in one place is not necessarily so in another. 
The studious policeman will make note of conditions and see 
to which the rule applies. Annoy, injure, endanger health, 
comfort or reposes. Any considerable number of persons. 

Perjury 

The crime of perjury interests policemen in an academic 
way only. A policeman never arrests for perjury without a 
warrant, and the courts rarely convict for the crime. This is 
so in spite of the fact that the crime is being continuously per- 
petrated every day and right in the presence of courts. As a 
provable proposition the commission of the crime is not obvious 
even when glaringly apparent. The essentials to perjury are 
an oath, the occasion for an oath, falsehood, wilfulness, knowl- 
edge, and materiality either before a court or where an oath is 
required. Knowledge, Wilfulness and Falsehood are the three 
important essentials. Its gravity makes it a felony but its un- 
provability makes it a crime at which a policeman should look 
askance until the warrant is given over to him. 

Public Officers 

From the standpoint of obedience to the law respecting the 
conduct of public officers rather than from duty to be performed 
in the enforcement of it the law of Bribery is of interest to a 
policeman. Being a trustee for the public he must not treat 
the property of the city as if it were his own nor receive re- 
muneration for services for which the public pays him. The 
gravity of the individual offence is not what makes the crime 
sometimes a felony as it is the intent to prevent grave possibili- 
ties by severe punishment. Bribing a public officer might work 
very serious detriment to the public welfare, taking unlawful 
fees might be trivial in an individual case, but as a general 
practice work grave injury to the public. Destruction of a 
record might defeat the ends of justice while the misappropria- 
tion of funds belonging to the public is more grave than from a 
private party because of the confidential relations an officer bears 
to the public. There is a multitude of offences which apply 
to public officers, but those which most concern policemen are: 
grave neglect of duty, taking gratuity to let a prisoner escape, 
exceeding one's duty, arresting without proper legal authority, a 



28 PRACTICAL POLICE WORK 

'refusal to help him in the making of an arrest, refusing to make 
an arrest when in duty bound to make it, resistance to a public 
officer in the discharge of duty. . N 

Public Safety. 

The public safety is endangered in a way that is felonious 
when explosives are offered to a railroad for surreptitious trans- 
portation or when an explosive is maliciously placed near a 
building with intent to throw it down and injure life. There 
are other offences under this head that are misdemeanors and 
a policeman should be able to recognize them because he might 
come upon the criminal trying to perpetrate them and therefore 
could make an arrest. They are the overloading of a passenger 
boat, applying too much steam to a boiler, or letting a steam- 
boiler burst from over generation of steam. Keeping ordinary 
explosives without a permit or manufacturing them in a tene- 
ment are also misdemeanors, but high explosives cannot be 
manufactured in the city under any circumstances. The trans- 
portation of explosives, the manner and place of loading and the 
conditions under which they can be transported are matters 
for the policeman to know as he shares the duty of enforcement 
with members of the Fire Department. 

The carrying of dangerous weapons surreptitiously is resorted' 
to by the criminal and the coward. Some of the crimes that" 
come under this head are misdemeanors but that does not greatly 
concern a policeman as he usually meets the condition directly and 4 
the crime is committed in his presence. He comes across them,, 
either when the offenders are using the weapons in committing a 
felony or when an arrest has been made for another offence. This 
type of crime is largely confined to one nationality and to those 
who are naturally criminal in their tendencies. In spite of its 
sweeping character the law has been ineffective because of the 
difficulty of locating violators. Dangerous weapons are divided 
by the law into two general classes, one of which cannot be 
carried at all, and the other which cannot be carried with the 
intention to use as weapons against another. A black jack,, 
slung shot, billy, sandbag , metal knuckle, bludgeon, bomb, or 
bombshell are not weapons that well-behaved citizens are in the 
habit of carrying about with them, and if well-behaved citizens, 
will not possess such articles the law says that those disposed, 
to be ill-behaved must not. 



PRACTICAL POLICE WORK 29 

Daggers, dirks, dangerous knives, stilettos and the like may 
be in the possession of a person for a harmless or utilitarian 
purpose and in such event their possession is not criminal, but if 
there be the intent to use them against another their possession 
is a misdemeanor. This intent is sometimes manifested by the 
appearance of the weapon as in the case of a nicked razor. 

A citizen may own a cannon, machine gun, rifle, shotgun or 
musket without license from a magistrate, but nothing smaller. 
He cannot keep one at home, carry it concealed upon his person, 
nor carry it if it be small enough to be concealed. Not only can 
a person not have these firearms, but dealers cannot sell them 
to persons who are without a permit to the great benefit of the 
gun dealers of Jersey City. Even when a person has a license he 
cannot wilfully discharge a firearm in the street, nor even with- 
out malice and in fun point a loaded firearm at another, nor dis- 
charge it in such a way that another might have been injured 
even though not injured, without committing a misdemeanor. 

Certain care is imposed upon the train conductor for the pro- 
tection of the public. If that care is neglected a misdemeanor is 
committed and a policeman who is present or a civilian could 
arrest. Among these are starting trains while a manifesting 
passenger is about to alight or enter, obstructing ingress or 
egress to cars, opening gates while the car is in motion or run- 
ning the train while intoxicated. These are crimes against the 
person which may result in individual injury. The danger from 
them is not as great as where a person displaces a rail, obstructs 
the tracks, breaks a signal, fires shots or throws stones so that 
the life and limbs of a large number are put in jeopardy and 
where consequently the offence is a felony. 

Religious Meetings 

Because of the recognized right of everybody to enjoy their 
own form of worship without being molested, the disturbance 
of a religious meeting by profane language, rude or indecent 
acts or unnecessary noise within or without is a misdemeanor and 
the police are obliged to give protection against all such conduct. 
The offence is mostly perpetrated on the streets, but sometimes 
within churches where there are factions in the congregation. In 
the former the policeman on post should give the necessary pro- 
tection; in the latter he should wait until called upon as church 
people rarely want to proceed to the limit of the law when they 
have family disputes. 



30 PRACTICAL POLICE WORK 

Riots — Unlawful Assemblys 

Of the twin crimes of riots and unlawful assemblies the 
policeman hears more than he sees. There are very few riots and 
few unlawful assemblies, but the police have frequently under- 
taken to interfere with assemblies that were not unlawful. 
In order to be an assembly three or more persons have to be 
present. In riot they disturb the peace by force or violence to 
persons or property, in unlawful assemblies they threaten to do 
so. In riot they threaten to do an unlawful act by force or 
violence and have the power to do so. In unlawful assembly they 
intend to do so and talk about it. 

A riot is generally a felony, an unlawful assembly is a mis- 
demeanor. It is a felony if the purpose of the assembly be to 
resist the enforcement of a Federal or State statute or the ob- 
struction of an officer of either in the performance of his duty. 
The person who directs, advises or encourages a riot is guilty 
of a felony. Lesser offences arising out of riots including the 
act of refusing to disperse or remaining after the meeting has 
become a riot or after being warned to disperse are misdemeanors. 

Robbery 

This is just an aggravated form of larceny. The same thing 
is done as in larceny; the same intent is present but the manner 
of doing it is different. To be robbery the property must be taken 
either from the person or from the presence of another. It 
must be taken against his will. The taking must be accompanied 
by force, violence or the fear of injury. 

"From the person" means that the property must have been 
attached to the person at the time. "From the presence," means 
close at hand. There the taking has to be accompanied by force 
or violence or fear of injury to the victini or some member of 
his family. The force used must be for the purpose of retaining 
and not to get away. 

The reason why robbery is a felony regardless of the amount 
taken is that it evidences a reckless disregard of the serious con- 
sequences that may result from being discovered in the act. 
A robber is always a wicked, desperate criminal. 



PRACTICAL POLICE WORK 31 

Sabbath 

The State follows the custom of Christians in keeping the 
Sabbath as a day of rest. That means that labor is prohibited 
upon that day. The repose of the people and religious observ- 
ances come before everything else on Sunday. That prohibits 
not only servile works but recreation of any kind that would 
interfere with repose or religious observances. Only works 
of necessity and charity are. allowed, but even they cannot in- 
terfere with repose and religious observances. When these are 
not interfered with, prepared food, a necessity, can be sold 
before 10 A. M. in delicatessen stores or between 4 and 7:30 
P. M. and in restaurants all day long while such necessities as 
tobacco, milk, eggs, confectionary, ice cream, soda water, fruits, 
drugs and newspapers can be sold all day. Barbers can shave 
before 1 P. M. Games and sports that do not disturb the peace 
can go on if they do not disturb religious worship or the repose 
of individuals. But the complaint of one individual who might 
be a crank would not be sufficient to stop an orderly game. Pro- 
cessions and parades are forbidden with music, except military 
or funeral processions. Dramatic and acrobatic performances 
on the stage are not allowed. 

Suicide 

Suicide is not a crime. The person who succeeds is beyond 
the law. A person who attempts suicide is no longer a criminal 
but an abettor can be guilty as well as a person who advises the 
act. These are felons and can be arrested under the conditions 
governing the arrest of felons. 

Treason 

Treason means war. The person guilty of treason must him- 
self make a war on the State or adhere to an enemy at war 
giving aid and comfort. This is the only crime defined by the 
United States Constitution. It is not felony but of a grade 
by itself. It does not respond to the rules governing the manner 
of making arrests in felony cases. Before there can be treason 
there must be an overt or open act. To conspire to make war 
is not enough. 

Treason would be committed if persons rose in a body to 
prevent by force and intimidation the enforcement of a statute 



32 PRACTICAL POLICE WORK 

generally against themselves, but not individually in a single 
instance and for a private purpose. The crime of treason had 
not been expanded during the war. As a crime against the 
United States it cannot be without amendment to the Constitu- 
tion. It had been supplemented by several Congressional acts 
which pass out of existence with the passing of the war. But 
the crime of treason both against the State and the United 
States remains 

Coercion 

Policemen should be careful about arresting on charges of 
coercion. They generally are involved in labor disputes and 
hard to prove. But when violence*;- or injury is threatened against 
a person to make him do something he has no right to do or 
abstain from doing what he has a right to do, when tools are 
taken away or intimidation used then the policeman should use 
the best means calculated to correct the condition. The police 
frequently run down writers of letters threatening injury to 
persons or property. The crime is committed when such letters 
are deposited. 

Disguise 

Police have to see that a permit is obtained for a masked ball, 
otherwise they are not to permit persons to go about masked. 

Sanity 

A policeman is not concerned so far as an arrest is concerned 
with the question of sanity in the perpetrator of a crime. Every 
body is presumed to be sane till proven insane, so that while an 
insane person cannot commit a crime the police should arrest the 
perpetrator of a criminal deed and let it be proved that he was 
insane. An exception to this would be a regularly committed 
lunatic who had escaped. He should be turned back to the 
asylum authorities. 

Children 

Policemen should be careful about arresting children under 12. 
There is a presumption of their being unable to commit crime. 
It is true the presumption may be removed, but that does not 



PRACTICAL POLICE WORK 33 

justify an arbitrary arrest. It justifies the seeking of evidence 
to remove the presumption and then going to a magistrate for a 
summons so that he may inquire into their ability to commit a 
crime. Sometimes, however, such children have to be arrested 
for their own good. Children under seven cannot commit crime. 

Trespass . 

Simple trespassing is not a crime, but trespassing in certain 
places is made specially so. These places are either dangerous 
to the trespasser or something is carried on there which calls 
for more than ordinary care in guarding. Trespassing after cer- 
tain warnings may become a misdemeanor. 

Public Morals 

Police in recent years have had considerable additional duties 
thrust upon them by the enactment of laws against the unre- 
stricted use of habit forming drugs. These laws are both Fed- 
eral and State and Municipal and have the same object — the 
protection of the individual whose mind and morals would be 
ruined by the drugs. Although the laws are for protection of the 
user it has been found necessary to begin the restriction with 
the producer and carry them through all stages of the traffic 
to those who sell or give drugs away. The drastic character of 
the provisions was made necessary by the methods to which 
addicts resort to procure drugs and the desperate measures to 
which trafficers resort to supply drug fiends with dope. 

The law as a preliminary forbids the manufacturing, sale or 
distribution of habit-forming drugs like heron, laudanum and 
morphine unless by registered persons. It limits the persons who 
can register to doctors, dentists, veterinarians and wholesale and 
retail druggists. It defines specifically the conditions under which 
drugs can be kept in small quantities by unregistered persons 
and specifies the amount that can be kept. It compels those deal- 
ing in drugs to make records of their sales for preservation and 
requires a prescription to justify a sale by a retailer for general 
consumption. It holds responsible for violations of the law 
owners of houses where opium is smoked. It makes the pos- 
session of stupor-forming drugs with intent to use them unlaw- 
fully a crime and possession concealed presumptive evidence 
of intent. 

Since the police are charged with the active enforcement of 



34 PRACTICAL POLICE WORK 

this law they must learn the various ways in which it is smug- 
gled into the city, the ways of dealers in concealing sales, the 
methods employed by runners to distribute it, the means of hiding, 
the various ways of using and the manner of recognizing an 
addict from the drug's effect. 

A law enacted in 191 8 made some important changes in the 
statute. All offences against the law were made misdemeanors, 
the more easily to get convictions, the amount to be prescribed 
was generally reduced, physicians and others registered were 
given greater privileges concerning the keeping of drugs and 
finally a spcial Department of Narcotics was created upon which 
the active duty of enforcing the law is imposed, thus making the 
police force a co-operating body for the enforcement of the law 
instead of being whojy responsible. The amount of habit-form- 
ing drugs that can be kept without conforming with the law is 
limited. 

Election Crimes 



It has come to pass that about all policemen are expected 
to do on election day is to preserve the peace in and about the 
polls. Frequently, however, quarrels arise between the election 
officers and demands are made upon the policeman to make an 
arrest. He should comply only when the offence is obvious. 
The election law is technical and the chairman of the board has 
the right of arrest when he chooses to exercise it. In all technical 
offences the responsibility should be put up to him by the police- 
man. Crimes against the election law are either felonies or mis- 
demeanors. A few general rules will help to determine which. 
These crimes are committed either by the election officer, public 
officials or the private individual. To determine whether the 
election officer has committed a felony let the policeman ask 
if the act committed was one that would directly affect the re- 
sult either by deliberately adding to tfie votes or subtracting 
from the legal number. But if the act is one which may em-' 
barrass, annoy, or something which zvhile not directly affect- 
ing the result yet might have such an effect, the offence is only 
a misdemeanor. The same rule applied will determine the ex- 
tent of a private person's guilt. If he registers zvithout having 
the right to, or votes •without being registered, or zuilfully helps 
another to do so, he is doing an act that directly affects the 
honesty of the vote and is guilty of a felony. Any act that 
directly affects the honest result is a felony, but there are a 



PRACTICAL POLICE WORK 35 

multitude of Regulations provided by law which are designed 
to prevent dishonesty. The violation of any of these, not di- 
rectly affecting the result, is a misdemeanor because they may-, 
not have a direct bearing on the result. There are a few excep- 
tions to this rule such as an election officer knowingly permit- 
ting fraudulent votes to be cast which is only a misdemeanor, 
but generally speaking the rule will apply to practically all the 
election offences. Those against the primary election law are 
generally misdemeanor. 

Business Crimes 

Business crimes arise where the person conducting the busi- 
ness has unusual opportunities fraudulently to impose upon his 
customers, or where his business is of a nature that affords op- 
portunities for the commission of frauds. The doctrine of 
caveat emptor puts the burden on the customer of looking out 
for himsef and while this does not apply" criminally yet in the 
absence of fraud there is no redress for a bad bargain. There 
are laws regulating banking, insurance, stock dealing and other 
kinds of business but the violation of these is seldom obvious, 
seldom a police matter, because in the first place he would be un- 
able to detect the commission and in the next there are depart- 
ments specially charged with the enforcement of such laws. 
Pawnbroking, scond-hand dealing and junk dealing are however 
three kinds of business regulated by the State and City. They 
will be dealt with in detail later. 

Police are concerned with strikes chiefly because they pro- 
voke breaches of the peace. It is not a crime to go on strike un- 
less when the striker by abandoning a machine or a position 
jeopardizes, the safety of life or property. It is no crime to 
advise strike breakers to abandon their jobs through pickets, but 
the pickets may commit crimes by becoming disorderly or per- 
petrating assaults. So can the strike breaker, and since both 
sides are actuated by the strongest motives of self-interest not 
to speak of passion, breaches of the peace are almost inevitable 
unless the police are vigilant. Under these circumstances the 
police have to perform two of their fundamental duties to a 
greater extent than under almost any other conditions — preserve 
the peace and prevent crime. (Every man preparing for an 
examination should ask himself numerous questions as to how, 
when, where, in what manner the peace is threatened and crime 



36 PRACTICAL POLICE WORK 

possible and he should ask also the best means of performing 
both duties.) 

Policemen are actively concerned with the suppression of pros- 
titution. This is one of the social evils which cannot be eradicated. 
It can be regulated and it is badly regulated. The crime involves 
the offer to commit the act, the procurer, the loiterer and the 
common variety. The crime is vagrancy and can be summarily 
disposed of in the magistrate's court. It may also be disorderly 
conduct. 

The owners of certain buildings where prostitution or gam- 
bling is carried on are liable under the law provided they are 
given what is known as a liability notice, that is a notice by the 
Captain of the precinct that he knows or has reason to believe 
the premises are being used for such purpose. Then it is up to 
the owner to suppress the practice or incur the liability. There 
are so many loop holes of escape in the procedure that the very 
greatest care is necessary to bring home the liability. Convictions 
under this head are almost nil. 

Extradition 

• Extradition is the removal of a prisoner from a State to which 
he has fled back to the State where he is charged with having 
committed the crime. The detectives' force has charge of such 
cases. 

EXAMINATION QUESTIONS 

Mention all the conditions under which a felonious assault 
may be committed.. What is the duty of a policeman when a 
citizen makes the following complaints to him on his post about 
matters none of which he saw : A had maliciously discharged an 
airgun at the complainant; the pellet had hit him on .the head 
and raised a lump. B had cocked a loaded revolver and threat- 
ened to shoot if he came near; C had punched the complainant 
on the body several times and seriously hurt him without leaving 
external marks ; D had been going about the streets patting little 
girls on the head and giving them candies. 

What are the essential elements of larceny? What three 
conditions go towards making an act one of grand or one of 
petty larceny? Classify each of the following as an act of grand 
larceny, or petty larceny or neither and give reasons, (a) Giv- 



PRACTICAL POLICE WORK 37 

ing a bad check in payment of a board bill overdue, (b) Ob- 
taining a diamond ring on the express representation that you 
had a purchaser therefor willing to pay $75 of which you were to 
keep $25 and return $50. You had no purchaser, but you pawned 
the ring for $30 and kept the money, (c) Finding a diamond 
ring, knowing the name of the owner but withholding its return 
not for the purpose of keeping it but for the purpose of getting 
a bigger reward, (d) Stealing a gold watch from a thief with 
the intention of giving it to the true owner when you found him. 
(e) Taking an automobile from a garage without the consent 
of the owner for the purpose of giving the owner's 14-year-old 
son a joy- ride. 

What elements must be present to make a crime one of 
forgery ? Tell all the ways in which the crime may be committed. 
What action should a policeman take and what care should he 
exercise if informed by a man that a third party had signed the 
complainant's name to a receipt for free tickets for a reviewing 
stand which were subsequently sold for $10? 

Who may be convicted of being disorderly persons? How 
are disorderly persons distinguished from persons guilty of other 
crimes, in the manner and nature of the proceedings to be 
brought against them ? How are they distinguished from persons 
guilty of disorderly conduct? 

Suppose a woman came to you on the street and said she was 
afraid her husband would assault her that evening, that he had 
threatened to do so on leaving her in the morning and she ex- 
pected him to carry out his threat. What advice and assistance 
would you give her? What would be the full procedure? On 
what theory would you interfere? 

If you followed a witness across to Westchester with a war- 
rant for a misdemeanor, issued in New York County, what 
should you do in case you overtook him and he disputed your 
right to arrest him without having the warrant endorsed? Give 
reasons. 

What is corroborative evidence? In what class of cases is 
corroborative evidence needed? Why? 

Mention the crimes that come under this heading.. 
■ What particular care should a policeman take when making an 
arrest for a crime of this class? Give reasons. 

What three conditions must be present before a crime can be 
compounded ? 

A picked B's pocket of a gold watch. B caught and arrested 
him, but not before he had passed the watch to C. The prisoner 



38 PRACTICAL POLICE WORK 

was turned over to you and all started for the station. C caught 
up with B, who was walking behind you and the prisoner, but 
soon left. Then B came to you and whispered, "I got the watch 
back and a ten spot for you to call it off. Here it is." What 
should you do and under what authority of the law would you 
act? What offence would you commit by agreeing to the propo- 
sition ? 

How many persons can be involved in a conspiracy? What 
is the grade of the crime? In what cases is it complete as soon 
as an agreement is made, when not? What is an overt act? In 
order to make it criminal what must be the nature or character 
of the subject of the conspiracy? If you are nervous and easily 
annoyed and two associates conspired to keep you in a state of 
nervous fear and thus keep you from doing your work with 
interest, did they commit a crime or not? Explain fully. 

What particular duties are imposed upon the desk officer 
when any of the following things happen at the station house?: 

(a) A deserter from the U. S. Army is brought in. (b) A 
man wanted for counterfeiting in Canada is brought in. (c) A 
query is received from another State regarding a person wanted 
for a felony there, but now in the precinct, (d) A fire is reported. 

(e) A foreign attache is brought in who cannot identify himself, 
but is charged with having killed a woman with his automobile. 

(f) A water main has burst and is flooding the station house. 

(g) A bomb is found under the station house steps, (h) A 
public building is blown up. (i) A man shoots himself in the 
street outside the station. If there are any duties common to 
each, state that duty and don't repeat it ; if there are other duties 
common to some and not to others state the duty and tell those 
to which it applies. 

Discuss with reference to the law and with appropriate ex- 
amples the responsibility imposed upon a desk officer with re- 
gard to arraignment before him; (a) by an officer and (b) 
by a citizen, telling the duties imposed, the discretion if any he 
can exercise, the cases wherein he has no discretion and the 
methods he can use to relieve himself of the responsibility for 
participating in an erroneous arrfest. 



CHAPTER III 
i Procedure, etc. 

Reasons for Policemen Existing 

What are the reasons for the existence of policemen is a 
question which every officer of the law should ask and answer as 
a preliminary to an understanding of his job. Policemen have 
existed throughout the whole period of civilization and their ex- 
istence is necessary to keep the vicious part of man from preying 
upon the better part. 

Perhaps before men came to live together in communities,, 
the savage discovered that there was a good and bad side to his 
nature. If he did not make the discovery as early as that, it 
was brought home to him as soon as communal life began. 

Various reasons are assigned as to why men took to living in 
association with one another. It has been ascribed generally to 
the necessity for obtaining food. Men then as now got their food 
not only from the soil but through preying upon the lower ani- 
mals most of which were then wild and able to put up an offensive 
and defensive fight. By combining together men found it easier 
to overcome the brute. 

No sooner was the communal life begun than man's innate 
selfishness began to show itself and the strong man quickly dis- 
covered that it was not necessary for him to work while he was 
able to take away the food for which weaker men had toiled. 
He took it and gave the first exemplification of the triumph of 
might over right. But the weaker men asked themselves if com- 
bination was a remedy against the lower animals why could it not 
also be a remedy against the animal in man? They could, how- 
ever, tell an animal on seeing it, but they could never tell when 
the animal part of themselves was going to assert itself and domi- 
nate the better part, so they had to make laws defining. the things 
which were wrongful. and providing means of punishment. The 
earlier laws like those of Draco were drastic and punished all 

39 



40 PRACTICAL POLICE WORK 

violators with death. Like many laws of the present day which 
did not have public approval they failed because few were found 
guilty of any crime on account of the harshness of the punish- 
ment. The policy of. making the punishment fit the offence was 
one that took centuries to evolve. 

It was found to be of little use to have laws and kings or 
judges to enforce them unless there were persons to discover if 
the laws were broken and who were the law breakers. The men 
designated as the King's servants in this respect were the first 
policemen. 

The disposition to fight and quarrel was from the beginning 
another characteristic of men. Although this disposition is strong- 
est where they live least together, yet the opportunity in such cases 
is less. As congestion increases, friction increases. Friction de- 
velops irritations and irritations lead to quarrels and breaches of 
the peace. The necessity for policemen to prevent this grows in 
greater proportion than the growth of the congested area. 

Since wars, feuds and private quarrels are the natural out- 
come of the strivings of men with each other and since these 
quarrels are not prevented by education, religion or any known 
agency and since fear of punishment has been found to be the 
greatest deterrent, laws are necessary to prescribe punishments, 
and the existence of policemen to discover crimes and their perpe- 
trators will always be necessary to civilized society. 

Modern Functions of Police 

The detailed functions of policemen have varied. Now they 
preserve the peace, prevent crime, protect life and property, en- 
force laws and ordinances, and detect and arrest violators of the 
law. These duties they perform by means of aid or advice, ad- 
monition or warning, the service of a summons, and the making 
of arrest. 

Aid and advice are given to every trivial offender, ignorant of 
wrong-doing, admonition and warning to offenders in trivial cases 
when by that means the condition can be remedied and its repe- 
tition prevented ; a summons is served in more serious cases 
when it serves the same purpose as an arrest, and the offence is 
still petty. An arrest is made when the crime is a felony or a 
serious misdemeanor. 

What is a crime? 

A crime is an act or omission prohibited by law, punishable 



PRACTICAL POLICE WORK 41 

upon conviction by death, imprisonment, fine, civil disability or 
other penal discipline. 

The Legislature can enact a reasonable law making anything 
a crime which is against the public welfare. 

A Crime is a public wrong, triable in the criminal courts, the 
purpose being to punish the defendant, make him suffer, and 
thereby deter him from again offending, as well as to give an 
example to others so that they will not offend. 

A Tort is a private wrong, triable in the civil courts, the 
theory being to compensate the complainant. 

There is a lot of things that, are both private wrongs and 
crimes. A man who unlawfully hits another on the nose or dam- 
ages another's property, etc., may be punished in a criminal pro- 
ceeding for the public wrong, and punished also by paying dam- 
ages or forfeiting property to the person injured by the private 
wrong. 

What constitutes a Crime ? 

Generally speaking there cannot be a crime unless there is an 
act of omission or commission coupled with criminal intent. 

Examples : * 

Black, while intoxicated, mistook White's house for his 
own and broke into it. His act without the criminal intent 
did not constitute a crime. 
Black, who on the day of a public election was 21 years of 
age, believing he was only 20, voted and stated that he 
was 21. His criminal intent without the unlawful act 
did not constitute a crime. 
Where the doing of a particular act or its omission is made 
a crime, however, the intent is immaterial. 
Examples : 

Blew, a bartender, sold a pint of beer to a 17-year-old boy, 
believing him to be 21. His act constituted a crime be- 
cause the law prohibited the sale to a person under 18. 
Blew, operating a motor vehicle at night, unintentionally 
omitted to display proper lights. His act constituted a 
crime because the law required that lights be displayed. 

Division of Crime 

A crime is either a Felony or a Misdemeanor. 
A felony is a crime punishable by death, or imprisonment in 
a State's prison. A misdemeanor is a crime less than a felony and 



42 PRACTICAL POLICE WORK 

is punishable by imprisonment elsewhere than in State's prison or 
by a fine. 

Three classes of persons are equally guilty of crime: The 
actual perpetrator, the planner or procurer, and the aider and 
abettor. 

Examples : 

Black hires Redd and Brown to kill White and gives them 
a gun. Redd kills White while Brown keeps watch to 
see that he is not detected. Black, Redd and Brown are 
equally guilty of homicide. 
An accessory is a person who comes into the crime, if a 
felony, after its commission by harboring, concealing or aiding 
the offender with the intent that he escape arrest, trial, convic- 
tion or punishment. Knowledge of the liability of the person 
aided or reasonable grounds to believe it, is necessary to make the 
accessory guilty. 

Examples : 

In the foregoing case if Frank concealed Redd after escap- 
ing, knowing that he was wanted for the killing of 
White, Frank would be an accessory. 

In misdemeanor cases all concerned are principals. 

Example : 

If Black committed a misdemeanor and to escape from a 
pursuing policeman, hid in Brown's barber shop, Brown 
would be a principal in the crime if he knew of Black's 
act and harbored him to escape arrest. 
t 

Attempt to Commit a Crime 

When an effort is made to commit a crime and failure fol- 
lows, it is an attempt to commit a crime. 

Examples : 

If Black put his hand in White's pocket, intending to steal 
a pocketbook, but withdrew it through fear of detection, 
without moving the pocket book. Black would be guilty 
of an attempt to pick White's pocket. 

If Black intending to commit arson spilled kerosene oil on 
the floor of the building he intended to burn but was de- 
tected before applying the light he would be guilty of 
Attempted Arson. 



PRACTICAL POLICE WORK 43 

Arrests 

An arrest is the taking of a person into custody that he may 
be held to answer for a crime. 

A person is put under arrest through restraint or by volun- 
tary submission. When either condition exists it is a crime for 
the arrested person to escape, but one of them must exist. 

Arrests are made either under the authority of a warrant or 
under the general authority of law. Warrants are issued by 
persons having the authority of a Magistrate both in felony and 
misdemeanor cases. In felony cases they are issued when the 
commission of the crime is not obvious ; in misdemeanor cases 
under the same circumstances and also when an arrest was not 
made at the time of commission. Arrests can be made both by 
peace officers, and by private persons. Policemen are peace offi- 
cers. Both may arrest when the crime is committed in their 
presence, i. e., first in their sight; second in their hearing; third 
in continuous crimes as where a man is carrying a watch he 
stole. 

Policemen and civilians may also arrest a person who has com- 
mitted a felony even though he did not commit it in their pres- 
ence. Sometimes one person will falsely charge another with 
the commission of a felony, but even though the charge is false 
a policeman acting in good faith would be justified in arresting 
the person charged if there be corroborating circumstances. He 
should, however, before assuming to make the arrest, make such 
diligent inquiry, touching the truth of the charge, as the occasion 
will permit. Official intelligence from within or without the 
State; circumstances from which the fact may be deduced; open 
and notorious knowledge by the public have all been held to be 
knowledge sufficient to justify the arrest. There is no well de- 
fined line to follow. The policeman must use common sense, and 
when he does so no jury will mulct him in damages for trying to, 
do his duty. 

Examples : 

White, a reliable person, charges Black with robbing him and 

states evidential facts which constitute a robbery. 
The Chief of the Chicago Police Department telegraphs to 
the New York police to arrest Black for robbery. A gen- 
eral alarm is sent out for Black* who is wanted for robbery. 

The police can arrest when a felony has been committed, and 
they have reasonable grounds to believe that the person arrested 
committed it, even though he did not. Civilians cannot arrest 



44 PRACTICAL POLICE WORK 

on suspicion. What is the nature of the reasonable grounds that 
would justify a policeman in making an arrest when a felony 
has been committed? Facts, circumstances, and conditions how- 
ever trivial that would lead a reasonable man to come to a like 
conclusion. 
Example : 

White's store was broken into and robbed and Black was 
seen coming out of the alleyway adjoining the store the 
night of the burglary. Black could be arrested, though 
innocent. He was simply unfortunate in being in that 
place at that time. 
In the night time the police can arrest under certain circum- 
stances, when they have reason to believe a person committed a 
felony. This provision has never been made clear by the courts. 
Example : 

If Black were found by a policeman in the night time carry- 
ing a bag of silverware which he couldn't account for and 
which appeared to be the proceeds of a burglary, the 
policeman would be justified in taking Black to the sta- 
tion house for investigation, a prisoner if necessary, and 
if Black could not satisfy the desk officer that he ob- 
tained such property lawfully, he could be charged with a 
% known burglary that it was reasonable to believe he had 

committed. 
There is no distinction between a peace officer without a 
warrant and a private person, in respect to the right to arrest for 
a misdemeanor. The courts have held that where an arrest may 
be made by a policeman without a warrant it need not be made at 
the very time of the commission of the crime charged, but may 
be made in a reasonable time thereafter. The reasonableness of 
the lapsed time depends upon circumstances. 

Civilians who fail to make an arrest at the time of the com- 
mission of a misdemeanor, should be instructed to apply for a 
warrant, if they know the offender. 

Although an arrest can be made by a civilian as well as by a 
policeman, the civilian is required to take his prisoner before a 
magistrate or to turn him over to a policeman without any un- 
necessary delay. 

The policeman to whom a prisoner is turned over must take 
him to the station house.* This is required for the purpose of 
preventing such things as a breach of the peace, compounding 
of crimes, and for the protection of the arresting civilian. When 
such a thin^ occurs, the officer is to invite the civilian to go along 



PRACTICAL POLICE WORK 45 

and make the complaint. Should he refuse to do so or identify 
himself to the officer, the latter may insist, and in case of absolute 
refusal to do either, the complainant would be subject to a 
charge of disorderly conduct. In making an arrest force neces- 
sary to compel submission can be used both by a civilian and po- 
liceman, but no more force than is necessary. If the offender be 
charged with a felony the officer may even under extreme circum- 
stances take his life to prevent his escape; if he be charged with a 
misdemeanor such extreme force cannot be resorted to. 

To effect an arrest when the right to arrest exists, doors can 
t>e broken, even in misdemeanor cases, after a demand for ad- 
mittance into a building has been refused. This is true, whether 
the arrester is an officer or civilian. Doors can also be broken 
if the prisoner escaped and took refuge in a building. 

Warrants are issued by magistrates and executed by peace 
officers. Magistrates include the Mayor as well as the Judges of 
.all Courts having criminal jurisdiction. Peace officers include 
policemen, sheriffs, and their principal deputies, on all occasions, 
and special officers in the execution of their particular duties, such 
as attendance officers, officers of the children's and animal's so- 
cieties ; Health Department inspectors, probation officers. Out- 
side of New York City there are other peace officers, such as game 
wardens, marshals and constables. 

Outside of New York City, warrants are to be returned to 
and prisoner arraigned before the magistrate issuing the warrant 
if possible. In New York City they go to the particular court 
from which they were issued. 

A warrant issued by a magistrate of a county cannot be served 
in another county without being endorsed by a magistrate of the 
second county. If issued by a judge of a State court, endorse- 
ment is unnecessary. Any warrant, however, issued by a magis- 
trate in New York City can be executed in any county within 
jNew York City. 
Example : 

If Justice of the Peace Smith of Yonkers issued a warrant 
for Black he should not be arrested on it in New York 
County unless it was endorsed for service by a magis- 
trate here. If, however, it was not endorsed until the 
day after the arrest it would be a mere irregularity and 
not an unlawful arrest. If Black were charged with a 
felony and it was impracticable to get the warrant en- 
dorsed, he could be arrested without the warrant. 
Bench warrants are issued : 



46 PRACTICAL POLICE WORK 

i. After an indictment. 

2. When the prisoner does not appear for trial, his surety 
has died or bail is insufficient. 

Bench warrants act as a commitment and the prisoner ar- 
rested under one should be taken to prison immediately as a 
desk officer cannot accept bail. If the arrest is for a felony, 
there is no. exception to this procedure, but if for a misdemeanor, 
he may be taken before a magistrate on demand for admission 
to bail. 

When making an arrest on a warrant, an officer must state his 
authority and show the warrant if requested. He can break into 
a building to execute it after announcing his purpose,- being re- 
fused, and upon giving notice of his intention. He may call upon 
any person for assistance and make an arrest for refusal to help. 

Arrests Generally 

In Domestic Relations cases concerning non-support of a 
wife, certificates of the issuance of a warrant are given out to 
the person applying for them. On the strength of these certifi- 
cates, policemen make arrests when the person named is pointed 
out and identified by the authorized bearer of the certificate 
whether within or without a building. The policeman is not jus- 
tified, however, in breaking into a building upon mere information 
of the presence of the accused who must.. be pointed out and 
identified. 

A. Magistrate has the right to order an arrest orally or in- 
writing for any offence — felony or misdemeanor — committed in 
his presence and a policeman should obey such order or serve a 
summons if ordered whether he saw the offence committed or not. 

A person who has been adjudged an habitual criminal can be 
arrested as a disorderly person or have his house searched any 
time he is acting in a suspicious manner. "Habitual Criminal" is 
a judgment that can be imposed after conviction upon a person 
already convicted in this State five times of misdemeanor, or after 
conviction of a felony, provided he has been convicted here be- 
fore of some other crime. 

An inspector of election on election day may give a written 
order for the arrest of a person annoying or interfering with the 
election officials and the policeman should arrest even though he- 
did not see the offence. He should take the prisoner at once be- 
fore the nearest magistrate, first allowing him to vote. 

L"nited States Army deserters are arrested when proclaimed 



PRACTICAL POLICE WORK 47 

deserters by the army. This is not usually done until after an 
absence of more than ten days. They are sent to the nearest army 
post within the city. Civilians should not make such arrests. 

Prisoners on parole are subject to arrest if they violate the 
terms upon which they were paroled. Warrants for their arrest 
are issued by the Board of Parole or the reformatory managers 
and can be executed either by parole officers or policemen. When 
the Department has been notified of the issuance of such a war- 
rant, any policeman may and should make the arrest. Such a 
prisoner can be locked up until the prison authorities call and 
take him. Court procedure is not necessary. The Board of Man- 
agers of the House of Refuge and of Elmira Reformatory have 
charge of the paroling and arresting of their own prisoners. The 
Board of Parole has charge of the cases belonging to the New 
York City Reformatory, the Workhouse and the Penitentiary. 

A material witness is not arrested in the ordinary sense. He 
is taken into custody in certain instances when the case is serious 
and the witness not responsible. There is no Code authority for 
the procedure but there is long usage to justify it. It should not 
he resorted to when the witness is willing to tell what he knows 
io competent authority. He should, however, be safeguarded 
until he has done so. 

A peace officer who saw a misdemeanor committed can di- 
rect another peace officer to take the prisoner into custody. The 
first peace officer is the arresting party. 

Arrest by Surety 

A bondsman is the custodian of the prisoner for whom he is 
surety. He can at any time before such prisoner is finally charged 
arrest and surrender him into the custody of the official to whom 
he had been committed, or authorize another in writing, upon a 
certified copy of the undertaking to do so. A copy of the under- 
taking must accompany the surrender. A policeman should not 
arrest a person on bail unless he receives proper written authority 
from the bondsman, and then, usually, only when the bondsman 
is unable to effect the surrender. Policemen should, however, 
give all reasonable assistance to bondsmen who are surrendering 
prisoners. 

Foreign Representatives 

Ambassadors and ministers representing other countries in the 



48 PRACTICAL POLICE WORK 

United States are exempt from trial and punishment here. This 
exemption extends to their household which includes secretaries 
and servants. The names of such household is on file with the 
Secretary of State at Washington. When any of them commit 
a crime they are to be returned to their own country for pun- 
ishment. 

When the crime committed by an Ambassador or a member of 
his household is felonious he should be arrested in order that he 
may be turned over by a Magistrate to his embassy. As a matter 
of policy, when it is a misdemeanor no arrest should be made. 
The name of the offender should be taken instead and reported. 

The immunity granted to members of a foreign legation does 
not extend to consuls who are commercial agents. 



'&>' 



High Seas 

Crimes committed on the high seas are punishable by the 
country under whose flag their ship was sailing. The police 
should interfere in such cases only at the request of the master. 
Crimes committed within the territorial three-mile limit are pun- 
ishable in this country as a general rule even though the ship be 
under a foreign flag. This is sometimes modified by treaty. 
When such crimes occur, as a general rule, a policeman can go 
aboard the vessel and make the arrest whether the master of the 
ship like it or not. 

The commanders of Naval vessels of foreign countries in this 
harbor have jurisdiction over crimes committed on their vessels 
but not of crimes committed by their men on shore. 

A man who commits a felony in another State and flees to this 
State is subject to arrest under the same conditions as if he had 
committed the crime within this State. 

Statute of Limitations 

There is no Statute of Limitations in homicide cases. In 
other felony cases the time within which an arrest can be made un- 
less an indictment is found is five years. In misdemeanor cases the 
limit is two years, excluding such time as the offender may be a 
refugee outside the limits of the State. Either county has juris- 
diction of a crime committed on the border within 500 yards of 
the line. A person committing a crime on a train or boat that 
passes through several counties may be tried in any one of them. 



PRACTICAL POLICE WORK 49 

Judges and lawyers while sitting in or trying a case in court 
are exempt from arrest while court is being held. 

An escaped prisoner is always subject to be retaken within 
the State by the person from whom he escaped. 

Neglect to Arrest 

To neglect to make an arrest when arrest is the proper remedy, 
subjects a policeman to punishment as a misdemeanant. When an 
arrest is made the prisoner must be taken without delay to the 
nearest Magistrate. The arrest is also to be made known to the 
policeman's superior who makes it known to the police commis- 
sioner within twenty-four hours. If court is not in session the 
prisoner is to be detained or bailed pending the next sitting of 
the court. 

To refuse to make an arrest when ordered to by a Magis- 
trate renders the person refusing liable to punishment for a mis- 
demeanor. The same liability attaches to a person who refuses 
to aid a policeman in arresting or retaking a prisoner. 

Summons 

A summons is a Magistrate's written order commanding the 
person addressed to appear in court in answer to a charge. A 
peace officer or any person can serve it. It is also used as a means 
of inquiry as to whether or not a crime had been committed. 

A summons is served on an individual by delivering it to him, 
on a corporation by delivering a copy to a responsible officer or 
person in a managerial position, after showing the original. 

Instead of ordering a peace officer to bring in a prisoner as a 
warrant does, a summons commands the accused to come and 
answer. Some are issued in blank by the board of city magis- 
trates to policemen and special officers in the city employ, over the 
name of the Chief Magistrate. They are rilled in by the serving 
officer and returnable within forty-eight hours after issuance. 
The manner in which police use and serve them is regulated by 
rules of the department. 

Rescue 

To rescue a prisoner from lawful custody, charged with a 
felony is itself a felony. To rescue one charged with a misde- 



So PRACTICAL POLICE WORK 

meanor is itself a misdemeanor. This is true whether or not the 
prisoner has been convicted. 

Escape 

When a prisoner escapes and is recaptured he must serve, not 
the time that is to elapse from the date of his recapture, but that 
which was to elapse after the date of his escape. 

It is felony for a prisoner charged with felony to escape from 
prison or custody by force or fraud ; a misdemeanor if held for a 
misdemeanor. In the same way a person who aids in bringing 
about the escape of a prisoner from prison or custody is guilty 
of felony or misdemeanor according to whether the prisoner is 
held on one or the other charge. This is true even though the 
escape has not been effected or even attempted directly. 

An officer who wilfully and corruptly lets a prisoner escape 
from jail or custody is guilty of a felony. For any other reason 
such as negligence he is guilty of a misdemeanor. In addition to 
other punishment he forfeits his office, and is forever disquali- 
fied from holding public office in this State. 

A ministerial officer such as a sheriff or subordinate who 
takes anything in the nature of pecuniary reward for helping or 
conniving at the escape of a prisoner is guilty of a misdemeanor 
even though the escape did not take place. 

One who harbors an escaping prisoner is guilty either of 
felony or misdemeanor according to the nature of the crime with 
which the escaping prisoner was charged. 

Search Warrant 

A search warrant was originally issued by a Magistrate to a 
peace officer to enable him to search for stolen property. There 
are three cases in which it is now issued : 

i. When the property was stolen or embezzled. 

2. When the property was used as a means of committing a 
felony. 

3. When the property is to be used to commit a public offence. 
In all cases the property may be taken from the premises where 
found or from the person of any body having it in his possession. 
Within the city and county of New York the warrant is returna- 
ble in five days ; in other counties in ten days. 

The property concerned and the building suspected must be 
designated with great particularity as well as the reasons why it is 



PRACTICAL POLICE WORK 51 

believed to be in such place before a Magistrate will issue a 
search warrant. 

A search warrant carries with it the power on the part of the 
executing officer to break into a building when admittance had 
been refused. Property taken must be receipted for in detail 
and the receipt left on the premises if nobody be there. 

The officer executing a search warrant must return it at 
once to the Magistrate after execution with a true inventory and . 
an affidavit that it is true. Unnecessary severity in executing it is 
a misdemeanor. 

BAIL 

Procedure in Accepting Bail in Police Stations 

A desk officer is not empowered to take bail if prisoner be: 
Charged w T ith a felony, except a trainman on a train or street 
car arrested even for a felony, arising from an accident in 
connection with-the operation of his train or car, resulting in an 
injury or death to a person, or injury to property. If court is not 
open, the desk officer may bail such person in the sum of one 
thousand ($1000.00 dollars) or in his discretion parole him to 
appear in court on his personal recognizance, or, charged with a 
misdemeanor, when his case has been already presented to a 
Magistrate, or, charged with violation of parole, or, intoxicated 
and unable to understand the proceedings. If a prisoner, even 
though partly intoxicated, be able to understand the proceedings, 
he may be admitted to bail, when able to take care of himself if 
bailed, or provided some relative or friend is present and will 
assume responsibility for his safety, or, a fugitive from justice 
from another State, or, charged with Bastardy, or, charged with 
being a Deserter from the U. S. Army, Navy, or Marine Corps, or 
under 16 years of age, and charged with improper guardianship, 
arrested on a bench warrant. • 

The misdemeanant, as a rule, must come before the desk 
officer on an original arrest under the State or local law. 

Amount of Bail Required 

Prisoner charged with : 

(a) A Misdemeanor $500.00 

(b) Violation of Corporation ordinance punishable 

by fine only, double the amount of the largest 



52 PRACTICAL POLICE WORK 

fine that could be imposed. 

(c) Violation of Corporation Ordinance punishable 

by a fine or imprisonment ioo.OO 

(d) Violation of Corporation Ordinance punishable 

by imprisonoment for 30 days or less 200.00 

(e) Violation of the Motor Vehicle Law (except Fel- 

ony or Intoxication) 100.00 

(f) If a child under 16 is arrested, charged with ju- 

venile delinquency, the personal recognizance, 
in writing of the parent or guardian may be 
accepted, in lieu of bail. This recognizance, 
however, usually is not taken if such child is 
the victim of a crime or witness to its com- 
mission by another. 

Defendant May Bail Himself 

A defendant may be admitted to bail on his personal under- 
taking if he deposits as security, accompanied by an oath of Own- 
ership, the necessary amount of money, or, liberty bonds, or 

(a) Property other than money which is worth the amount 
of security required, or, 

(b) His pushcart, if charged with a violation of the ordi- 
nance relative to peddling, or, 

(c) His bicycle, if charged with a violation of the ordi- 
nance relative to bicycle riding, or, 

(d) His motor vehicle, if charged with violation of the 
motor vehicle law (except Felony), or, 

(e) A motor vehicle, with the written consent of its rightful 
owner, who must be present, if charged with a violation 
of the motor vehicle law (except Felony). 

NOTE: If a defendant be charged with a violation of a 
Corporation Ordinance, punishable by 30 days' imprison- 
ment, or less, he may be paroled on his promise to appear 
before the Magistrate at the time specified. 

Qualification of Surety 

A surety who offers bail for a prisoner, must qualify under 
oath, as follows, and be 

(a) A resident of the State. 

(b) Not Policeman, Warden, or Prison Keeper, or an attor- 
ney practicing in the Courts of this State. 



PRACTICAL POLICE WORK 53 

(c) Worth the amount of the undertaking, exempt from all 
execution. 
He must execute the bond in the presence of defendant. 

Security That May Be Accepted 

(a) Real Estate located in New York State 

(b) Stock and fixtures, household furniture, usually located 
in county where bail is effective. 

(c) Money or other personal property if deposited in the 
station house. 

d) A surety company if a resolution of its Board of Direc- 
tors authorize its officers or attorneys to bail persons. 
A certified copy of this resolution must be filed with 
the undertaking. 
NOTE : Under the strict letter of the law all property other 
than real estate offered as security should be deposited 
in the station house. Such security is taken, however, as a 
matter of police procedure. 

Disposition of Security Deposited in Station House 

Security that can be easily transported must be taken to Court 
when prisoner is arraigned and delivered to owner by Magis- 
trate's order. 

Security that cannot be conveniently transported is kept in the 
station house and turned over to its owner upon Magistrate's 
order. 

Security deposited in the station house and not turned over to 
owner, is delivered to the Property Clerk of the Police Depart- 
ment, unless otherwise directed by the Magistrate. 

Questions on Bail 

Q. Could a defendant give his personal undertaking and offer 

as security real estate owned by him ? 
A. No — A defendant who bails himself must deposit money 

or other personal property in the station house — if such 

is required, and make affidavit to the effect that he is 

the sole "owner of such property. 
O. If a person be charged with several misdemeanors, is 

separate bail required in each case? 



54 PRACTICAL POLICE WORK 

A. Yes — for instance, if charged with five petit larcenies, 
the amount of bail required is $2500.00. 

O. If a surety offered real estate as bail, could the desk 
officer refuse it because the deeds are not presented, or 
because he was doubtful of the surety's ownership, or 
the amount of his equity? 

A. Xo — If the surety is in other respects qualified, and then 
properly identifies himself and makes affidavit to the desk 
officer as to the ownership of the equity, the desk officer 
is required to accept the security offered. If, however, the 
surety is unable to identify himself, or the desk officer has 
good grounds to believe that his title to the property or 
equity in it is not good and sufficient, such bail may be 
refused. 

Q. If a surety offer personal property, such as stock and fix- 
tures, which he does not deposit in the station house, could 
the desk officer refuse to accept such security if doubt- 
ful as to its value? 

A. Yes — Where personal property is offered, either by de- 
fendant or surety, the desk officer may refuse if he, in 
good faith, be doubtful as to its value, or if the person 
offering it refuse j:o make affidavit that he is the owner. 

Q. If a surety offers real property and be of unsatisfactory 
reputation, can the desk officer refuse to accept him as 
bondsman ? 

A. No — provided he qualifies in other respects ; the desk 
officer should, however, make diligent inquiry as to the 
sufficiency of such security. 

Q. Can two prisoners, each charged with the same misde- 
meanor, bail each other out? 

A. Yes — provided they are able to qualify as bondsmen. 

O. If a child be charged with juvenile delinquency, can the 
desk officer under any circumstances refuse to accept the 
personal recognizance of such child's parents or guardian? 

A. Yes — the law only states that a Lieutenant may accept 
such recognizance. The Lieutenant should only refuse 
such recognizance, however, in cases where the acceptance 
would defeat the ends of justice. 

O. If the defendant in a misdemeanor case be in a hospital, 
can the desk officer accept bail for him? 

A. Yes — provided the case has not already been presented to 
a Magistrate. If bail is to be accepted, a sergeant or 
lieutenant would be sent to the hospital with the bonds- 



PRACTICAL POLICE WORK 55 

man and bail accepted there. 

Q. If a prisoner, who is arrested for a misdemeanor after 
closing of the day court, offers bail and insists that it be 
taken for night court, is the desk officer required to ac- 
cept it? 

A. No — the prisoner should be bailed to appear the following 
morning. 

Q. If a prisoner arrested during the time court is open de- 
sires to give bail, is the desk lieutenant required to ac- 
cept it ? 

A. No. The Charter requires that a person arrested must 
be taken immediately before the nearest sitting Mag- 
istrate. 

Q. What should a desk officer do if a surety offer bail for a 
prisoner held in the station house on a felony charge? 

A. The desk officer should inform the surety that bail can 
only be accepted by a Magistrate, fill out proper form, 
give it to such surety and tell him to apply to a Magis- 
trate. If the surety return to the station house with bail 
bond or release slip signed by a Magistrate, the desk 
officer should communicate with such Magistrate and 
verify his signature and upon such verification, release 
the prisoner. 

Q. A child has been arrested for juvenile delinqunecy and has 
been sent to the Children's Society. His parents offer 
bail for him at the station house. What is the duty of 
the desk officer? 

A. The desk officer should make out personal recognizance 
bond, have parent sign it — then make out proper form — 
give it to parent and instruct him to go to the Children's 
Society for his child, then notify the Children's Society 
by telephone of his action. 

Q. A bondsman brings the person he has bailed to a station 
house and offers to surrender him. What action should 
the desk officer take ? 

A. If such person had been bailed at that station house and 
his case had not been presented to a Magistrate the desk 
officer should accept his surrender. If bailed at some 
other station house, or his case had been presented to a 
Magistrate, the bondsman would be instructed to surren- 
der him at the place he would be confined in if not out 
on bail. 



CHAPTER IV 

COURTS— JURISDICTION 

Criminal Courts 

The Magistrates Courts, the Courts of Special Sessions, the 
Court of General Sessions in New York County, the County- 
Courts outside New York County, and the Supreme Court are 
the courts which have original criminal jurisdiction in the City 
of New York. The first two are inferior courts, but Special Ses- 
sions has been made a court of record. The City Court of Utica 
and Oswego are criminal courts in those cities. A court composed 
of State Senators and members of the Court of Appeals consti- 
tute the court for the trial of impeachments. 

The appellate courts in New York State are the Appellate 
Division of the Supreme Court and the Court of Appeals. 

- The United States Circuit Court of Appeals and the United 
States Supreme Court are appellate Federal courts to which de- 
cisions of the United States District Court can be appealed. 

Magistrates' Courts — Chief City Magistrate 

The City Magistrates constitute a board presided over by the 
Chief Magistrate. He assigns the other Magistrates and is the 
administrative head of all the Magistrates Courts. 

The Mayor, Chief Magistrate and Police Commissioner con- 
stitute a board to fix the boundaries of the districts for each Mag- 
istrates Court in each Borough. Special Magistrates court or 
Courts of Special Sessions for the trial of specified classes of 
offenders are also provided for. 

Magistrates' Jurisdiction 

Magistrates as such have summary jurisdiction in case of 
disorderly conduct, public intoxication, vagrancy and violations 

56 



PRACTICAL POLICE WORK 57 

of the Ordinance. When a Magistrate sits as a Special Sessions 
Judge he can dispose of offences constituting violations of the 
rules and regulations of various State and City Departments. 
He can also dispose of violations of the general business law 
■effecting small loan brokers and employment agencies, the lodg- 
ing house section of the charter, the sections relating to the dis- 
posal of dead bodies and of signs and names of practitioners in 
the public health law ; the section relating to the parental control 
and unlawful employment of children in the education law, and 
all violations of the labor, Sabbath, tenement house and conser- 
vation laws as well as article nA of the highway law and that 
part of the Penal Law affecting animals. 

Fraud on hotel keepers, accepting street car transfer tickets 
for use, sending messenger boys to disorderly houses, opening 
fire hydrants, advertising on the National or State flag, placing 
injurious substances on roads, using unmuffled motorboats in tidal 
waters, carelessly distributing drugs, driving vehicles, animals 
or teams on sidewalks, as well as fraudulent representation in 
labor organizations are all triable by the same court with a 
Magistrate presiding. 

In case a person is entitled to a trial before three judges of 
the court of Special Sessions, a Magistrate cannot try him with- 
out his consent. 

MUNICIPAL TERM 

The Municipal Term Court is really a branch of the Court of 
Special Sessions although held by a Magistrate. The Magistrate 
holding it is designated by the Chief Magistrate. Each court 
covers a district the boundaries of which may be changed by the 
Chief Magistrate from time to time. 

Violations of the ordinances; of departmental regulations; 
of laws prosecuted by departments other than the police, and 
violations of the labor law come before the Municipal Term. 
The Board of Magistrates may, however, except certain cases 
which otherwise would be triable in this court. 

Offences of the kind tried by the Municipal Term when com- 
mitted without the district are tried before the Magistrate ordi- 
narily holding court in the district where they are committed. 
The ordinary court procedure is followed in the Municipal 
Term. 



58 PRACTICAL POLICE WORK 

TRAFFIC COURT 

The Traffic Court has been organized by the board of City- 
Magistrates to try violations of the traffic regulations. It exists 
only in the Borough of Manhattan, and deals with vehicular traf- 
fic violations. The court is not in session every day. When it is 
in session offenders are brought there direct by arrest or sum* 
mons. When it is not in session and an arrest is made the 
prisoner is brought to the Night Court in the night time or to 
the ordinary District Court in the day time. 

DOMESTIC RELATIONS COURT 

The Domestic Relations Court exists for the adjustment of 
family troubles. Family troubles usually are: 

Parents' failure to support or provide for minor children. 

Husbands' failure to support or provide for their wives. 

Grown childrens' failure to support parents or grandparents. 

The court has not jurisdiction in abandonment cases where 
the father left or abandoned his children in destitute cases. That 
offence is a felony and the accused is arraigned in the Magis- 
trates' Court. 

GENERAL POWERS OF MAGISTRATES' COURTS 

Magistrates have jurisdiction of first offenders in some mis- 
demeanor cases whom they can send to the City Reformatory 
for as long as three years. 

Magistrates have jurisdiction of women who offend against 
the law forbidding prostitution, and may send them to the Bed- 
ford Reformatory, House of the Good Shepherd, Wayside Home 
or similar institution for as long a term as three years. 

Magistrates have jurisdiction involving habitual use of drugs 
and may commit addicts to an institution, correctional or charita- 
ble where such addicts are treated. 

Magistrates have power to put prisoners on probation. 

Persons who are arrested for offences in the city are ar- 
raigned in the court of the district in which the offence was 
committed, except — 

Men misdemeanants and women misdemeanants who demand 
an immediate hearing in Manhattan and the Bronx arrested after 
the close of the day courts who are taken to the Men's Night 
Court. (When a man and woman are arrested for a joint of- 



PRACTICAL POLICE WORK 59 

fence they are both taken to the Men's Night Court. ) 

Offenders against Federal Laws who are taken before a U. S. 

Commissioner. 

Children tinder 16 charged with juvenile delinquency who are 

taken to the Children's Court. 

CHILDREN'S COURT 

The Children's Court has been established for the trial of 
juvenile delinquents. Juvenile delinquents are children under 16 
-who have committed some crime other than homicide. The court 
is a branch of Special Sessions. 

A child under 16 who has committed a crime is arraigned in 
the Children's Court. 

If a child and an adult working in concert have committed a 
crime the child can be used as a witness against the adult in the 
Magistrates' court; after his own arraignment if the Children's 
Court be in session or before his own arraignment if not. The 
Children's Society has charge of juveniles from the time of their 
arrest until after their arraignment. 

SPECIAL SESSIONS 

The Court of Special Sessions exists primarily for the trial 
of persons charged with misdemeanors. Three judges sit without 
a jury. Its jurisdiction extends to all the boroughs. Cases in 
this court are prosecuted by information and not by indictment. 
It does not try libel cases. It may not try other misdemeanor 
cases if — 

A person be charged with cruelty to animals or a first of- 
fender against the motor vehicle law pleads guilty. 

A Grand Jury indictment has in the meantime, been found 
against the accused for the same offence. 

A Supreme Court Judge, a Judge of General Sessions or a 
County Court Judge has meantime certified that it is reasonable 
to have the charge prosecuted by indictment. 

THE GRAND JURY 

The Grand Jury is a body of responsible citizens chosen to 
inquire into crimes prosecutable by indictment in the county. Its 
numbers are not to exceed twenty-three and sixteen must sit to 
transact business. Twelve mav vote an indictment. 



60 PRACTICAL POLICE WORK 

Before finding an indictment the Grand Jury hears the wit- 
nesses for the defence. This is discretionary. When the evidence 
is strong enough to accuse, it finds a true bill. A true bill is, 
however, only an accusation. 

In addition to the title of the action and the names of the 
parties an indictment must contain a plain concise statement of 
the act constituting the crime. After indictment a bench war- 
rant is issued by the court or District Attorney for a person not 
in custody. He is arraigned in the court in which the indict- 
ment is found or in that to which it is sent. 

In felony cases the defendant must appear to answer in 
person. In misdemeanor cases he can answer by counsel who 
either moves to set aside the indictment^ demurs or pleads 
thereto. There are three kinds of pleas : 

Guilty, 

Not guilty, 

Previous conviction or acquittal of the same charge. 

An individual pleads himself, a corporation pleads by coun- 
sel. Usually the counsel conveys the plea to the court. If 
"Guilty" the prisoner is remanded; if "Not Guilty" the case is 
put on the calendar for trial. Pleas of "Guilty" are not accepted 
where the punishment may be death. 

The Supreme Court and the Court of Special Sessions try in- 
dictments in New York County; the County Courts in other 
counties or the Supreme Court. 

The Court of General Sessions tries felonies in New York 
County. It also hears appeals from the Magistrates' courts and 
Special Sessions. Unlike the Supreme Court or the County 
Court, its jurisdiction is limited to criminal cases. 

The Supreme Court can try indictments found in general ses- 
sions or in the County Courts, or send them to be tried in those 
courts ; grant new trials, grant writs and hear and determine the 
various kinds of motions in respect to an indictment or the 
person accused. 

COUNTY COURTS 

County Courts exist in all the counties outside the county of 
New York. In Brooklyn, Queens, Bronx and Richmond as 
well as Albany and Ulster they have jurisdiction over all in- 
dictment cases including those punishable with death. In other 
counties they cannot try cases where the death sentence may 
be inflicted. In counties within the city their original jurisdic- 



PRACTICAL POLICE WORK 61 

lion is practically similar to that of the Court of General Ses- 
sions within New York County, but outside the city they try 
bastardy cases, master and servant cases, domestic relations cases, 
licenses and other kinds of cases which within the city are either 
heard at Special Sessions or in the Magistrates Courts. 

COURT DUTIES 

' When a policeman brings a prisoner into court there are 
several duties devolving upon him. He should : 
i. Put his prisoner in a pen and register him. 

2. Consult with the Assistant District Attorney or Lieuten- 
ant if the case be a felony. 

3. Make the complaint, produce witnesses, if any, and have 
the prisoner sign the declaration sheet if necessary. 

4. Read over the complaint carefully to detect errors or omis- 
sions. If they exist have them corrected. 

5. Note his shield number and the number of his command 
on the complaint. 

6. Make a short affidavit when more time is needed to get 
necessary evidence in a felony case. 

7. Inform the Magistrate in case a witness is missing and 
procure a doctor's certificate in case a witness is in the hospital. 

The complaint with the papers attached are to be delivered to 
the court attendant and then the policeman should stand in line 
with the prisoner and wait his turn to be called. Prisoners on 
summonses are usually permitted to sit in the body of the court 
until called. 

Way to Testify 

When the case is called the officer should take his prisoner 
briskly in front of the Judge and stand at attention until ordered 
to take the stand. 

On being sworn an officer should give his rank, name, shield 
number, and the number of his precinct, sit upright in the wit- 
ness chair and begin his story in a straight forward manner. 

When giving his testimony an officer should speak loud and 
distinct enough to be heard and understood by every person in 
Court. 

Tell nothing but the exact truth, tell only what he himself 
heard or saw, and tell it in a brief, concise and business-like 
manner. 



62 PRACTICAL POLICE WORK 

Answer in as few words as he knows how. Yes or No 
is sufficient if either meets the question. If he cannot answer 
Yes or No, a brief answer is the best. 

State the exact language used or act committed when testify- 
ing to indecent words or acts. 

Not try to make his version tally with that of other witnesses 
for the prosecution. He or they may have observed incorrectly 
and both may be testifying truthfully as they saw it. 

Not lose his temper, or become irritable, as the defendant's 
counsel may ask him questions for the purpose of causing him 
to do so and thereby discredit him with the judge or jury. For 
instance, the defendant's counsel may ask him, "Officer are you 
the policeman that Sergeanf Jones found intoxicated in a saloon ?" 
The best answer would be "No," or "Yes.'' 

Not pound the defendant, or show that he is trying to do so. 
If asked "Do you want the prisoner convicted?" answer truthfully. 

Not argue with the defendant's counsel, or with the court, or 
interrupt the court, counsel or other witnesses while they are 
speaking. 

Not hesitate to say "I don't remember" when questioned 
about something that he has forgotten or hesitate to ask the 
court for permission to consult an entry in his memorandum 
book, he should not read therefrom, except by permission of 
the court. 

Not use slang words, or words he does not know the mean- 
ing of. Use simple words and sentences. 

Not say "I guess so" or "I think so" when testifying. If he 
does not positively know he should say so. 

Not testify as to the defendant's previous character, except 
by direction of the court or in answer to a question. 

The prisoner's record may not be gone into in giving evidence 
as it is only when he himself tries to prove good character or in 
the case of second offenders that character is to be proved. A 
witness should use no unnecessary words ; tell time exactly and 
distance as precisely as possible. 

After Testifying 

On leaving the witness stand a policeman should take his stand 
beside his prisoner. If a commitment be secured he should ob- 
tain the commitment paper from the attendant and deliver it and 
the prisoner to the prison keeper with any property not to be 
used as evidence and get a receipt for what he delivers. 



PRACTICAL POLICE WORK 63 

In case of a discharge the prisoner's property should be re- 
turned to him and a receipt obtained, or~ a written order from 
the clerk procured in case there is doubt about the ownership of 
the property. 

After finishing with his case the officer returns to the sta- 
tion, apprises the desk officer of the disposition of the case and 
delivers property he may have for evidence. 

The desk officer should be acquainted when an officer is 
subpoenaed to court. The officer should take the subpoena to 
court and deilver it to the attendant. If property is to be taken 
from headquarters he should first go there and show his sub- 
poena. Property taken to court and brought back again should 
be receipted for on the taking and returning of it. 

Faults in Testifying 

An officer is asked what the defendant said when arrested. 
An answer we frequently hear is "he • admitted to me that he 
was guilty." This is obviously only a conclusion, and when the 
defendant objects to it, the Court directs the officer to answer 
the question and not to attempt to describe the effect of the de- 
fendant's statement. The officer finally testifies, "He, defendant, 
said to me, I took the package from the wagon; I was hard up 
and needed the money." That is in fact a much more effective 
and accurate answer, but an unfavorable impression has been 
created on the jury by the rebuke to the officer from counsel 
and the Court, and the jury is apt to get the impression that the 
officer is being unfair. 

Again, an officer may say "They acted in concert," unless lie is 
aware that by the rules of evidence he cannot so characterize, 
but that he must state what the actions were and leave it to the 
jury to draw conclusions as to whether or not they were concerted. 

Many jurymen seem to have a prejudice against the testimony 
of police officers, and jurors who constantly, as citizens, trust 
their lives and safety to the word of an officer, when sitting on 
juries will not believe the testimony of the same officer, unless it 
is corroborated. This feeling may in part arise from the fact 
that the jury realizes that the police officer desires that the ac- 
cused be convicted. If he is an honest officer and knows that 
the defendant is guilty, having himself seen him commit the 
crime, he must desire his conviction, but it is important, as this 
feeling exists on the part of many jurymen, that a police witness 
shall not appear to be over-zealous; and by a little more famil- 



64 PRACTICAL POLICE WORK 

iarity on the part of police officers with the ordinary rules of evi- 
dence than some of them now have, they may avoid rebukes from 
the Court for attempting, in their ignorance of what evidence is 
admissible, to give that which is not. Such rebukes are some- 
times administered to a witness who is trying his best to testify 
truthfully, but is ignorant of the limitation upon what he may 
say, and when a police officer is so rebuked, the result is that the 
jury is prejudiced against his testimony. 

CONTEMPT OF COURT 

Contempt of court is a misdemeanor. In the higher courts it 
is punishable without the aid of the statute. It is: 

Words or acts of a disorderly, contemptuous or insolent 
character committed during the sitting of the court, in its im- 
mediate view or presence and tending directly to interrupt pro- 
ceedings or impair respect for due authority. 

Similar behavior before a sitting referee or jury. 

A breach of the peace, disobedience to a lawful mandate, re- 
sistance of a process, refusal to be sworn or interrogated and 
publication of a false or grossly inaccurate report of proceedings. 



CHAPTER V 
EVIDENCE, PROCESSES, ETC. 

The law of evidence is concerned principally with two things: 

i. What may be proved in court. 

2. How may that thing be proved. 
The accused is entitled to a fair trial, and presumed to be 
innocent until proven guilty. He should have the privilege of 
being confronted by his accusers and the opportunity to cross- 
examine them for the purpose of : 

Exposing their weaknesses; testing the value of their state- 
ments, and opportunities for attentiveness in observing ; strength 
of recollection; disposition to speak the truth. 

Most testimony must be given by the person who saw the 
act or heard the noise, not J3y others who were told ; that would 
be Hearsay. Hearsay Evidence js allowed when it is the dying 
declaration of a person feloniously injured, who at the time of 
making such declaration believed he was going to die, and sub- 
sequently did die as a result of that injury. 

A policeman, however, is allowed to testify to the fact that a 
complaining witness reported to him the burglary, larceny or 
whatever crime which the defendant is charged with and his sub- 
sequent action in the case. He is not allowed to testify to the 
words the complainant used in making such report. If the crime 
charged be rape, or other sex offense, the words used by the 
woman in making the complaint may be testified to for the pur- 
pose of showing her lack of consent, particularly, if she made 
the complaint immediately after the occurrence. 

A material statement made by a third person in the presence 
of and hearing of the defendant, if heard, may be testified to in 
order to show what the prisoner said or did on hearing it. 

Confessions 

Voluntary statements by the accused are admissible as evi- 

6; 



66 PRACTICAL POLICE WORK 

dence; he need not be informed or warned that they will be 
used against him, as in England, by a policeman at the time of 
an arrest. The Federal courts follow the English rule. They 
must not be extracted through the instrumentality of fear. 

A Magistrate warns a prisoner of the use which may be made 
of his confession before-receiving it. 

A policeman should record a confession in his memorandum 
book in accordance with the rule for keeping memoranda. 

The most unimpeachable confessions are those written out by 
the accused. If the policeman writes it, he should get the pris- 
oner to sign it and the policeman should also sign as a witness. 

In first degree murder cases confessions can be used only to 
strengthen other testimony. Confessions made outside of court 
are not in themselves sufficient to convict. When made in court 
after the crime is charged and after a plea of guilty is entered 
they are enough to convict. 

A confession made under duress is not admissible as evidence 
Duress can be exercised by the police or District Attorney. 
Example ; 

If Black were arrested on suspicion of burglary and con- 
fessed only because he was put in fear of physical pun- 
ishment, such confession could not be used against him. 
If, however, he stated that he had pawned the stolen 
property in a certain pawnshop, the policeman to whom 
such confession was made could testify that as a result 
of a conversation he had with Black, he went to a certain 
pawnshop and found therein the stolen property. 
A confession to a District Attorney under the stipulation that 
the confessor will not be prosecuted, cannot be used 'against a 
prisoner. 

A confession by a defendant to his attorney or confessor, is 
privileged, and cannot be used except by his permission. 

A confession made by a defendant while under the influence 
of liquor may be used against him unless he is so drunk as not 
to understand the nature of the confession. 

A confession by a witness, documentary or otherwise pre- 
sented in any proceeding where he is granted immunity by statute 
cannot be used against him, unles he makes and deposits in the 
office of the County Clerk a statement waiving immunity. 

When Compelled to Testify 

A person may be compelled to testify in the trial or investi- 



Art. 


34- 


Art. 


36. 


Art. 


72. 


Art. 


74- 


Art. 


88. 


Art. 


140. 


Art. 


164 


Art. 


188. 



PRACTICAL POLICE WORK 67 

gation of the following offenses, even though he claim that his 
testimony may incriminate him, but if compelled to testify he is 
granted immunity by statute unless he waives such privilege. 
Penal Law relating to the following : 
Art. 14. Criminal Anarchy. 

Bribery and Corruption. 

Bucket Shops. 

Duelling. 

Election Law. 

Gambling. 

Disturbing Lawful Meetings. 

Prizefighting and Sparring. 

Riots and Unlawful Assemblies. 

When Corroboration Is Necessary 

Corroboration of testimony is necessary to secure convic- 
tion in : 

Sex offences. 

When it is that of an accomplice. 
When it is that of a child under 12. 

When a person is put upon trial for a particular offence, evi- 
dence of similar acts formerly committed, cannot, as a rule be 
proven. 

Example : 

Black is charged with robbing White. Evidence that he had 
previously robbed Green would not be admitted. 
There are exceptions to the above rule. When the question 
of criminal intent is raised, or where the presumption of intent 
has been overcome and it must be re-established, evidence of 
similar acts can be introduced to prove such intent. This is 
another reason why the criminal records of a prisoner should 
always be looked up. 
Example : 

Brown is charged with obtaining money from White on a 
worthless check. As proof that he had criminal intent, 
evidence may be offered that he gave similar worthless 
checks to other's. 
Brown is charged with passing counterfeit dollar bills. As 
proof that he knew they were counterfeit, evidence may 
be offered that he passed similar counterfeit bills on 
others. 
Brown is charged with standing at the window of his home, 



68 PRACTICAL POLICE WORK 

on a certain date, with his private person exposed. As 
proof that he did so intentionally, evidence may be offered 
that on other days he committed similar acts. 
Brown is charged with receiving stolen goods from Black on 
a certain date. As proof that he knew such goods were 
stolen, evidence may be offered that he bought stolen 
goods from Black on other dates. 
Whenever it becomes necessary to prove motive, a fact, a 
condition, an act or a circumstance that would go to supply such 
a motive, can be testified to. Had the accused anything to gain 
pecuniarily? Had there been a quarrel? Was there spite or 
jealousy? Would the accused be benefited in any way or grat- 
ified by the act ? 
Example : 

Black is accused of killing White, the fact that Black would 

inherit White's property; that he had quarreled with 

White prior to the killing; that he had occasion to be 

jealous of White, etc., may be proved. 

As a part of a chain or circumstances it is competent to prove 

any previous preparation for the crime such as buying of the 

instrument of execution, threats made or intentions expressed by 

the accused. 

After a person has been accused of the commission of a 
crime it is competent to prove acts, speech or conduct on his 
part influenced by the crime or the accusation and having to do 
with or relating to it. 

Telephone conversations can be testified to just as other 
conversations, provided the witness can identify the person 
speaking by the tone of the voice. When a telephone conversa- 
tion is had and an act follows as a natural sequence, both the 
conversation and the act can be testified to for the purpose of 
showing the chain of circumstances that led up to the final hap- 
pening. 

Example : 

"Is this Brown?" 
"Yes." 

"This is Black speaking. Do you want to sell those stolen 
coats vou bought last night?" 
"Yes." 

"All right. Bring them over to my store and we will 
settle on a price." 

"Very well, I will bring them over right away." 
A policeman who heard such conversation could testify to the 



PRACTICAL POLICE WORK 69 

fact that he heard it, and subsequently saw Brown leave his home 
with stolen coats and deliver them to Black. 

A witness cannot testify to what a third party told him. That 
is hearsay. For example: In the trial of Black charged with 
stealing a horse, White could not say "Brown told me he saw 
Black steal the horse." 

There is no method legally prescribed for the manner of 
identifying a criminal. The accused may be identified while 
alone or in the company of others. He may or may not have been 
pointed out in advance to the witness. Since the identification is 
subject to challenge and the method by which it was brought 
about may be raised at the trial for the purpose of discrediting 
the identifying witness, the best method is where the accused is 
picked from a number of others without the witness having had 
a previous opportunity to look him over. 

Opinions or conclusions cannot, as a rule, be admitted as 
evidence unless given by an expert. There are, however, certain 
conclusions which are obvious to a person endowed with common 
sense, and these can be testified to, such as the appearance of a 
person, color of his hair, his condition and behavior. Testimony 
of that kind is admissible. 

Evidence given by word of mouth is called, sometimes parole, 
sometimes oral evidence. 

KINDS OF EVIDENCE 

Documentary evidence consists of books or written matter 
produced for inspection of the court. 

Exhibits are articles or things submitted in evidence which " 
directly relate to the case. 

Competent evidence is evidence pertaining to the fact at issue. 
For instance: "Brown is accused of committing a burglary in 
New York and Jones testifies that he saw Brown in Chicago at 
the time such burglary was committed." 

Cumulative evidence is evidence of the same general kind 
and character and to the same point as evidence already given. 

Circumstantial evidence is evidence of facts and circum- ^ 
stances from which the existence of the fact to be established may 
be inferred. For instance: If established as a fact that Brown 
was alone in a room at the time a pocketbook was stolen from 
a table therein, it would be reasonable to suppose that Brown 
was guilty of stealing it, as he was the only one who had such an 
opportunity." 

Corroborative evidence is additional evidence to strengthen 



70 PRACTICAL POLICE WORK 

that already given. For instance : "A woman charges Black with 
assault and states that she screamed at the time af the occur- 
rence; the testimony of a person who heard such screams would 
be corroborative evidence. 

Presumptive evidence is evidence of facts from which the 
fact at issue may be presumed. Example: "If Black had a 
stilleto concealed on his person it is presumed that he intended to 
make unlawful use of it." 

Direct evidence is the evidence of witnesses who testify to 
their actual knowledge of the facts to be proved. Example: 
"Black accused of stabbing Brown with a knife and Smith testifies 
that he saw Black do so." 

Sufficient evidence is the amount of weight of evidence which 
will convince a reasonable mind. The sufficiency of the evidence 
produced is a question of law, therefore the Court decides that 
question before submitting a case to the jury. 

Destroying Evidence 

It .is a felony : 

To make up fraudulent written matter for the purpose of hav- 
ing it introduced as evidence in court. 

To offer to procure or to procure fraudulent written matter, 
having knowledge of its character. 

A misdemeanor : 

To destroy purposely, written matter to be used as evidence 
with the object of preventing its use. 

To incite another to testify falsely even though perjury is 
not committed. 

To prevent the attendance of a witness or the production of 
anything to be used as evidence, through threats of violence, 
deceit or fraud. 

Marking Evidence 

Evidence should be marked very carefully. The ends of 
justice may be defeated through careless marking. Another wit- 
ness should see it marked and be able to identify the mark. A 
note of the mark should be made in the officer's memorandum 
book. 

An article or thing received from another should be doubly 
marked by the person giving it, and the officer taking it. Tags, 
as a means of identification, are as a rule unsafe and inadequate. 

Evidence to be placed in an envelope should be marked first 
in the presence of a witness and the envelope sealed in his pres- 
ence. The time. date, names of sealer and witness should also 



PRACTICAL POLICE WORK 71 

be marked on the envelope. The seal should be broken in the 
presence of the Court and not before. When it is necessary to 
reseal, the same procedure should be followed. 

Revolvers are scratched for identification purposes and a 
note of the serial number made. The calibre and make is noted. 
Cartridge shells empty or charged are also scratched after being 
examined as to previous discharge. Bullets are marked by a 
deep dent to prevent tampering, after being examined for pre- 
vious marks. 

Poisons, drugs and the like are put in metal containers, marked 
and sealed in the manner indicated. Clothing and documents are 
properly marked with something indelible or ineffaceable ; the 
denomination and serial number of paper money to be used as 
evidence is taken. Metal coins are scratched. 

Dead bodies are tagged for identification, and the tag con- 
tains a comprehensive description of the body, the date of death 
and the name of the deceased if known. 

Responsibility to the Law 

Everybody is presumed to be responsible for his acts which 
means that anybody who commits an illegal act must take the 
consequences. The law will not regard a man as insane unless 
he is proven so. Neither will it treat him as a lunatic, imbecile 
or idiot unless actually adjudicated as such. While these things 
can be put up as a defence the offender in order to escape must 
show 

1. That he did not know the nature of the act. 

2. That the act was wrong. 

In the last analysis a person who proves the foregoing of 
himself is held incapable of committing a crime. So is a child 
under 7. If between 7 and 12 he is presumed incapable which 
presumption may be removed by proof. A person may not be 
fully competent (compus mentis) and yet be liable for his crim- 
inal acts. 

There is a difference between the presumption in an insane 
person and in a child under 12. In the first case the presump- 
tion may be overcome by the accused ; in the second case the bur- 
den is upon the State to remove the presumption. A policeman 
should not arrest a child under 12 for a trifling crime without a 
warrant. He may be taken into custody for improper guardian- 
ship. 



?2 PRACTICAL POLICE WORK 

Who Are Punished in This State 

To be punished in this State for a crime, the crime must have 
been committed : 

i. In this State, wholly or partly. 

2. In another State and the proceeds brought to this State, 
provided the crime would have been larceny here, and by one who 
helps in abduction or kidnaping from this State even though in 
another State at the time or 

Participates in the commission of a crime in this State while 
absent in another by causing, procuring aiding or abetting, or 

Does an act while outside of the State which in its natural 
course results in a violation of the law in this State. 

Subpoena 

A subpoena is a process to compel the attendance of a witness 
in court. It is served by anybody by showing the party the origi- 
nal and leaving a copy. When it contains a direction to bring 
books or papers it is called a subpoena duces tecum. 

When witnesses reside in another county service is usually 
effected through the Sheriff of that county who makes return 
without delay to the District Attorney. The person served with a 
subpoena must appear under a penalty if the process be issued 
by a court of record, District Attorney or County Clerk. If 
issued by another person it must be endorsed by a judge of a 
court of record. In New York City such endorsement is not 
needed. 

A court outside this State cannot directly order the attendance 
of a witness from this State. The subpoena, however, can be 
endorsed by a judge of a court of record here and then it is 
good if tendered with fees amounting to ten cents a mile for each 
mile to and from the court and $5 a day additional. 

Disobedience of a process including a subpoena is contempt 
of court, as is a refusal to be sworn or to testify. 

A conditional examination may be had for witnesses who are 
too sick to attend or who are about to leave the State. In such 
cases counsel for the defence must be notified so as to be present 
and cross-examine them. 

To dissuade a duly subpoenaed person from attending court, 
or to practice fraud on a witness for the purpose of affecting his 
testimony is a misdemeanor. 

Perjury 

To constitute perjury there must be: 



PRACTICAL POLICE WORK 73 

An oath or affirmation. 
A false statement knowingly made. 

An occasion where an oath is required or may be lawfully 
administered. 

A material matter misstated. 

It is perjury whether the oath is made orally or in writing, 
before a court or by affidavit or at a hearing or inquiry ordered 
by a court or by law. 

Perjury is a felony, so is subordination of perjury. To be 
guilty of the latter a person must wilfully induce or persuade 
another to swear falsely. 

To attempt to procure false testimony from another even 
when the attempt fails is a misdemeanor. To say positively that 
you know a thing when you believe but are not sure is perjury. 
Examples : 

At the time of a robbery in First Street, Black was in 
Second Street and Brown was in Twelfth Street. Black 
was being tried for the crime. Brown swore in defence 
that at the time of the robbery Black was in Second 
Street. Even though Brown's statement were true in 
fact, he committed perjury because he did not know 
li? whether it was true or false. 

Miss Jones, a witness in a criminal proceeding, was asked 
her age and answered untruthfully. Doing so, she did 
1 : not commit perjury unless her age was material to the 

■ point at issue. 

QUESTIONS ON LAW AND PROCEDURE 

In each of the following cases state what crime, if any, is 
committed, what duty is imposed upon a patrolman when the 
circumstances are brought to his attention by a citizen, what 
evidence is needed to justify an arrest, and what to secure a 
conviction : 

A, carrying loot, the product of a robbery, is caught by B in 
the act of burglary. A offers him the loot to be let go and B lets. 
him off and keeps the loot. 

A knows B to be a professional burglar, but says nothing 
about it. B in appreciation of this gives A $1000. 

A stole a rifle worth $50 from B. B swore out a warrant for 
A's arrest, but later gave the policeman $10 not to serve it. B 
has got the rifle back and $10 to give the patrolman. 

A committed a felonious assault on B for which there was a 
criminal and civil suit entered. A paid B $100 in settlement of 



74 PRACTICAL POLICE WORK 

the civil suit and stayed out of the jurisdiction when the criminal 
trial was called. 

A and B agree to corner the stock of bunting and obtain all 
of the supply there is except that in store houses. They hire D 
who is C's employee, to steal all C's bunting, take it to a yard 
adjoining tenement houses and with the aid of E burn it. 

A and B for the purpose of obtaining Government contracts 
hire C, an employee of the department, to tip them off as to 
the amount of other bids which he is able to do by obtaining the 
figures through transparent envelopes. 

A and B for the purpose of keeping D out of competition 
with them, hire C, a lawyer, to bring a number of suits against D 
so that he would not be able to give attention to the business in 
hand. 

A for the purpose of finding out if there are any traitors in 
a secret society, secretes himself in a closet during the meeting 
and is discovered there. 

A for the purpose of covering up a defalcation, burns up an 
account book and charges B with stealing it. 

A child of 10 throws a stone with a sling, hits a chauffeur on 
the wrist, who lets go of his wheel. The car runs into a bank 
and one of the passengers is thrown out. This passenger follows 
the boy and beats him so severely that he had to be carried home. 

A. a citizen, arrests a man for robbing a woman in the street. 
He does not know what to do with his prisoner, so B. a third 
partv, says he will hold on to him while A is telephoning for a 
policeman. When A comes out the prisoner is gone and B ex- 
plains that he broke away. This is denied by others present. 
Then vou come along and A insists that you arrest B. What 
should vou do? If you did arrest him what charge would you 
make? 

Suppose the man who escaped had been arrested for simple 
assault, would you arrest B for letting him escape ? Why ? Give 
reasons. 

If the citizen had let him go after arresting him for the crime, 
what penalty would he incur? Explain. 

If an officer allows a prisoner to go who tells him he is a 
-friend of the Commissioner and will have him broke, of what 
crime is the officer guilty? 

A. B. C and D live together in a flat. A makes bombs, in- 
tending to kill capitalists. B buys some of the explosive matter 
to oblige A. C knows of the bomb-making and discusses and ad- 
vises the uses to which they are to be put. D knows of the work 



PRACTICAL POLICE WORK 75 

and sympathizes with it, but is not known to take any part either 
in the making of the bombs or in the discussion concerning them. 
Which of them are breaking the law and why? 

X and Y are detectives who have the adjoining flat, instal a 
dictophone, listen to the conversations and make notes. While 
they are listening, a bomb blows up, kills A and X and another 
innocent tenant in the house. 

Explain the crimes for which the offenders are liable to ar- 
rest, and the evidence to collect for their conviction. 

Suppose a magistrate, while on his way to court, saw an 
altercation between a teamster and the chauffeur of a private 
auto, who accused the teamster of wantonly injuring the auto. 
The teamster left his wagon and assaulted the chauffeur with his 
lists ; then after remounting his wagon gave vent to a stream of 
filthy, coarse and obscene language. There is no policeman in 
sight. 

What is the power of the magistrate in such a case ? What is 
his duty ? Give the full procedure. 

(a) Suppose the chauffeur appeared against the teamster? 

(b) Suppose he did not? 

What courts have authority to compel offenders to keep the 
peace ? 

For how long? j 

What class of offences is concerned in such cases? J 

What exceptions to such a class? 

When is such an undertaking broken? 

What are the penalties for breaking such an undertaking? 

Suppose you were told that a certain woman was asked to 
give false testimony and incited to it by the pretense that the 
party against which it was to be given had injured her. What 
would you do ? 

The following objections are made to persons offering them- 
selves as bondsmen at a station house. State which of them are 
valid and which are not, giving reasons. 

(a) A man claiming to be the owner of real estate is alleged 
to have only a life interest therein. 

(b) A man claims that he is the owner of property, but it is 
alleged that the mortgages and his wife's dower right leave him 
no equity. 

(c) A man offers a piece of property as security which it is 
alleged he does not own. 

(d) A man offers himself as a bondsman who it is alleged 
is not a citizen. 



76 PRACTICAL POLICE WORK 

(e) A man offers himself as a bondsman who is alleged to 
be the owner of a disorderly house, a gambling house and is a 
professional bondsman. 

A man offers himself who it is alleged is an ex-convict from a 
State prison. 

A, a resident on the beat of Patrolman B and well known to 
the patrolman, is walking on the sidewalk when his brother and 
two special officers seize him and force A into an automobile. 

A calls on B for protection. B jumps aboard of the machine. 
A's brother shows a court order committing A to a lunatic asy- 
lum. A says it is fraudulently obtained, that the brother wants 
him incarcerated so as to make away with certain property. The 
policeman says they must go to the station. A's brother shoves B 
off the running board and the car starts off. B commandeers 
another machine and follows. He fires his revolver at the tire of 
the retreating auto and wounds one of the officers in the leg. 
They escape. B waits for A's brother and arrests him for kid- 
naping. Discuss the conduct of B as to the propriety or impro- 
priety of his conduct. 

A informs you that he caught B picking his pocket and ar- 
rested him. B denied that A had the right to arrest and refused 
to go along. Then he broke away from A and ran into a stable, 
closing and bolting the door. A was about to force the door 
when C arrived and told A to go about his business or he would 
punish him for destroying C's property. C was owner of the 
stable. A appeals to a policeman. Explain all the information 
the policeman should give A as to his powers and what assist- 
ance he should render to A. 

The right to carry arms is guaranteed to every citizen of the 
United States by the Constitution. How is the exercise of this 
right regulated by the State? 

(a) With regard to the nature of the arms: 
! (b) With regard to the keeping of them; 

(c) With regard to the carrying of them. 

What is a bench warrant and in what cases is it issued ? What 
are you to do if one is delivered to you ? 

How can an officer in charge of a prisoner protect himself 
when taking his prisoner through a neutral county? 

Suppose a warrant was simply signed in blank by a magis- 
trate who did not know the name of the defendant. In what 
particulars would it be defective? 



CHAPTER VI 
EXTRADITION 

When a person commits a serious offence in New York and 
escapes to another place, say Chicago where he is located, the 
matter is first laid before the District Attorney by the detective 
and his witnesses. The District Attorney may present the facts 
to the grand jury, and upon the issuance of an indictment, make 
out a bench warrant and give it to the detective to execute. 

Notice of the facts is next sent to the police of Chicago who 
arrest the fugitive, and if he refuses to waive extradition an ex- 
emplified copy, of the indictment is sent to Chicago. Upon this a 
magistrate in that city may hold the fugitive for thirty days. 

The complainant has to make an affidavit setting forth the 
facts of the crime, that the accused was in New York on the day 
it was committed, and asking that he be returned to New York 
to be prosecuted. 

The District Attorney next makes application to the Gov- 
ernor of this State for an authorization to bring back the pris- 
oner, giving it as his opinion that the accused committed the 
crime and naming the officer who is to bring the prisoner back. 
Three warrants are signed by the officer and endorsed on the back 
that the accused cannot be found in the State of New York. 

The application, certified copies of indictment, bench warrant 
and affidavit of complaint in regard to flight are collected together, 
duplicate copies made and sent to the Governor of this State. 
When he examines them and is satisfied he files one and returns 
the other to the District Attorney with the requisition and the 
authorization to the officer to receive the prisoner. 

The Governor of Illinois, after receiving and examining the 
papers and requisition, makes out a warrant to the proper au- 
thorities directing them to turn over the prisoner to the New 
York authorities. This warrant is delivered to the officer having 
the man in custody who thereupon turns him over to the New 
York detectives who take him back to New York. 

77 



78 PRACTICAL POLICE WORK 

Should the prisoner waive extradition proceedings, the de- 
tective goes at once to Chicago with the bench warrant and a 
certified copy of the indictment. The prisoner signs a waiver 
and is at once delivered to the detective from New York. 

"When a person commits in Chicago, say a crime classed as a 
felony in New York and that fact is communicated to Xew York 
where he now is, the police here can arrest him and hold him 
for extradition. When the offence is a misdemeanor an exem- 
plified copy of the indictment or complaint must come from 
Chicago and upon it a Xew York magistrate can issue a warrant 
and the man can be arrested. Then the Chicago authorities send 
a certified copy of the indictment or complaint, meantime the 
accused being held on a short affidavit pending its arrival. When 
it arrives the detective makes out a full complaint against the 
accused, attaches to the papers the indictment or complaint and 
has the magistrate hold him for thirty days pending a warrant 
from the Governor of the State of Xew York. If it be not issued 
in that time the prisoner is discharged. 

The Governor's warrant can be sent to the Police Department 
first or through the Chicago officer who applies for it. It is taken 
by the detective to the prison warden who leaves a receipt in ex- 
change for the prisoner whom he takes to the District Attorney's 
office where if the accused sign a waiver he is turned over to 
the Chicago authorities, a receipt given on the back of the warrant 
which is returned to the Detective Bureau and through the Com- 
missioner sent to the Governor. 

Should the accused refuse to sign a waiver he is taken be- 
fore a Judge of the Supreme Court, or court of record where he 
can raise the question of not having been in the State of Illinois 
at the time of the crime, but no other issue. He can go to the 
Governor on this question on appeal. When the Court decides 
against him he is turned over to the Illinois authorities in the 
manner already described. If he were out on bail, his bondsmen 
must produce him upon notice from the District Attorney. 

The waiver which the prisoner signs in the District Attorney's 
office is one making it unnecessary to go before a Judge of the Su- 
preme Court ; otherwise extradition proceedings cannot be waived 
in this State. Xeither can they in New Jersey and Pennsylvania, 
so that in these States papers must be obtained. 

The signature of a judge of a court of record is sufficient to 
an exemplified copy of the complaint to be sent to the Governor 
when the grand jury is not in session. The practice of holding 



PRACTICAL POLICE WORK 79 

the prisoner for thirty days pending extradition is general, but 
not universal in all States. 

INTERNATIONAL EXTRADITION 

For the purpose of illustration, we will assume that in the 
County of New York, Brown committed an extraditable felony, 
fled to a foreign country to avoid arrest, and that his whereabouts 
become known to the police. 

The detective handling the case should report the facts to the 
District Attorney of the County where the crime was committed. 

If there be an extradition treaty between the United States 
and the foreign country to which Brown has fled, the District 
Attorney hears the witnesses and if satisfied that there is suffi- 
-cient evidence to convict, sends a telegram to the Governor of 
the State of New York, stating the crime with which Brown is 
charged, his description, where he is, and asks that he be arrested. 

Upon receipt of such request, the Governor notifies the Sec- 
retary of State of the United States of the facts, and the Depart- 
ment of State instructs the United States Miniser, or Ambassa- 
dor in the country, where Brown is, to cause his arrest. 

The Ambassador or Minister makes application to the proper 
tribunal for the man's arrest and if it is made, he notifies the 
Secretary of State of the United States, who in turn notifies the 
Governor of this State who notifies the District Attorney of the 
county that he is detained, awaiting extradition papers. 

The District Attorney then has the witnesses appear before a 
judge of a high court (usually a Judge of General Sessions) and 
make depositions as to the facts in the case. These depositions 
are attested to by the Judge and certified to by the Clerk of the 
Court. They are also certified to by the County Clerk, as to the 
election of the Judge. 

Triplicate copies of the depositions are made, to one of which 
is attached an application to the Governor of the State, for a 
requisition upon the Secretary of State of the United States, and 
all are forwarded or taken to the Governor's office at Albany. 
One copy is retained at the Governor's office, and the requisition 
of the Governor is attached to the other copies which are for- 
warded, or taken to the office of the Secretary of State, in Wash- 
ington. The State Department in Washington retains one set of 
such papers and the Governor's requisition, the other set is authen- 
ticate 1 by the Secretary of State of the United States, given to 
the officer, with the warrant of the President of the United States 



80 PRACTICAL POLICE WORK 

and a letter from the Secretary of State of the United States 
addressed to the United States Ambassador, or Minister in the 
foreign country where the man is in custody. 

Upon the officer's arrival in the foreign country, he presents 
all his papers at the Embassy, or Legation and the necessary 
proceedings for the delivery of the fugitive are conducted by the 
Embassy. 

When the fugitive Brown is delivered into the custody of the 
officer, who is the agent of the Government of the United States, 
he is brought back to the County of New York and placed in 
proper confinement, the case thereafter taking its usual course. 



CHAPTER VII 

HOMICIDE, ARSON, ASSAULT, ETC. 

Compounding a Crime 

To compound a crime there must have been a crime commit- 
ted and then corrupt agreement to let the criminal get off. The 
corruption may consist in taking money, property, gratuity, re- 
ward or even a promise. The agreement may either be expressed 
or implied and the promise may be to conceal a crime, abstain 
from or delay prosecution or withhold evidence. This does not 
apply to certain misdemeanors known as private crimes which 
may be compromised with the consent of the Court. 

Compounding a felony is a felony; compounding a misde- 
meanor is a misdemeanor. The agreement in itself constitutes 
the crime even though it be never carried out. 

Examples : 

Brown cashed a check forged by Black and did not prose- 
cute him because he made good the amount of the check. 

Brown's watch was stolen from his pocket by Black, and it 
was returned to him because hk agreed not to prosecute.. 
The mere taking of one's goods back again or receiving 
reparation is no offence if no favor is shown or agreed 
to be shown to the thief. 

Brown knew that Black committed a robbery and received 
a sum of money from Black because he agreed not to in- 
form the police. 

Brown was to be a witness against Black who was to be 
tried for robbery. He fled the jurisdiction of the court 
because Black gave him a sum of money. 

The offence of compounding a felony is complete at the time 
when the agreement to refrain from prosecuting is made. 

81 



82 PRACTICAL POLICE WORK 

Advertising 

Various kinds of advertising are forbidden by law. 

Advertising counterfeit money for sale or anything that pur- 
ports to be counterfeit money, stamps or token of value, or aid- 
ing in it with knowledge is a felony. 

Advertising by placard anything in which you are inter- 
ested on the property of another without consent is not only a 
misdemeanor but there is a presumption of guilt on the inter- 
ested party which he must overcome. That presumption war- 
rants a policeman in making an arrest if the circumstances war- 
rant an arrest. 

To advertise an offer to procure a divorce or dissolution of 
the marriage tie or to engage as an attorney for such purpose is 
a misdemeanor. 

To advertise the treatment of private diseases is a misde- 
meanor. 

To use the United States flag or the State flag for advertising 
purposes is a misdemeanor. 

False and misleading advertising for the purpose of making 
a sale is a misdemeanor as are false statements about the pur- 
chase or a sale of securities of a corporation with intent to de- 
ceive the public. 

Selling real estate by means of prizes, distinctions or puzzles 
is a misdemeanor. So is the placing of advertising matter in any 
postable place in a public street, such as a curb post or hydrant. 

Throwing or causing to be thrown advertising matter in the 
street, yards of private persons, stoop, vestibule or letter box of 
a building is a violation of the city ordinances, as is the driving 
of, an advertising wagon through the streets. This does not apply 
to the ordinary signs of a firm's regular business wagons. 

The city can punish by ordinance the tearing down of its 
placards. 

ARSON 

Arson was originally the setting of a house on fire in the 
night time in which there was a human being. That was once 
a capital offence and is still arson in the first degree. 

The crime of arson has been broadened greatly in this State. 
The house may not be burned directly if a structure is set on fire 
which may communicate to it, but a house must be concerned 
hi the fire. The time of the commission of the crime is no 
lorger restricted to the night time but includes the day time 



PRACTICAL POLICE WORK 83 

as well. The person whose life has been risked need not have 
been in the house at the time of the fire. It is enough if some- 
body is ordinarily there. A house includes boat, car or any 
structure. 

Arson is a felony. The insurance people have had a provi- 
sion added to the law making it a felony to burn a building for 
the purpose of collecting insurance. Under the provision "build- 
ing''" also includes any structure or car. Collecting insurance is 
the motive in the majority of arson cases. Pyromaniac, a mal- 
ady of the weak-minded; revenge and the concealment of crime 
are other motives. 

The insurance collecting arsonites are of two kinds. 

1. Victims of business reverses trying to recoup losses. 

2. Professional fire-makers who set their own fires or hire 
their services out for pay to others. The latter kind are the 
most dangerous. They hunt up merchants in business difficul- 
ties, over-insure their own goods or remove insured property 
before setting the fire. They move from place to place and 
assume different names to avoid detection of the insurance com- 
panies and the public authorities. 

Pyromaniacs are mental defectives who delight in the excite- 
ment a fire creates. They are not numerous. 

Arson for revenge is more frequent than pyromania. Any- 
thing which excites such desire for revenge as to induce the com- 
mission of a crime is likely to provoke the crime of arson if the 
revenge can be gratified best in that way. Arson to conceal homi- 
cide or other crimes is infrequent and not of sufficient impor- 
tance to warrant discussion. 

Arson is hard to prevent and difficult to detect. For this 
reason the city employs a corps of assistant fire marshals to run 
down the perpetrators. With these men policemen are to co- 
operate, but inasmuch as the patrolman on post is the one most 
likely to discover a case of arson and as the evidence of the 
crime can best be secured at the time of its commission the 
policeman should neglect no opportunity to use the best efforts 
and the most diligent endeavors to detect, secure and preserve 
whatever evidence of the crime may be available at the time of 
his making the discovery. 

Quickness of thought and action, acuteness of observation, 
extreme care in noting conditions, circumstances and details are 
of the greatest importance to the policeman who has first dis- 
covered such a fire as may have been set by a "fire bug." 

Since the crime of arson must in most cases be proved by 



&4 PRACTICAL POLICE WORK 

circumstantial evidence every circumstance of probative value 
should be noted. These include the time the fire started; who 
saw it first ; where it started ; who first entered the burning 
building; how he entered; what he found; what he saw. 

Antecedent facts, that is facts which went before are very 
important. Who was last seen in the building; when; how was 
he occupied ; was the time a usual time for his presence ? Were 
any packages seen to be carried into the building recently; by 
whom ? 

Conditions found in the building are important. Traces of a 
lighted candle where it ought not to be ; trains of inflammables 
to lead the fire to other parts; the remnants of burst bladders; 
wood soaked with kerosene oil ; soaked clothes in closets ; powder 
-concealed in mattresses ; time fuses on the premises ; escaping 
gas from an open jet near an open light. 

The solvent condition of the insured is important. Had the 
stock been running down ; was business bad ; was the place over- 
stocked ; was the insurance disproportionate to the stock value. 

The previous character of the owner is important. Was he 
an habitual drunkard ; had he had other fires ; was he honest in 
his dealings? 

The policeman first on the scene should see, hear, observe 
and take notes ; preserve everything even the slightest detail from 
being molested ; allow nobody but the firemen, assistant fire 
marshals or the detectives to get at facts ; refuse to discuss 
anything he learned with an outsider and give full particulars 
to the detectives and marshals when they arrive. 

Examples of the things which might be important in detect- 
ing arson would be unlighted candles on hand or the remains of 
one that might have been used ; oil cans on the premises par- 
ticularly if they bore marks of finger prints ; packages and paper 
boxes in which oil cans might have been wrapped ; tags or labels 
on such packages to identify the place in which it might have been 
purchased. 

Precautions of the firebug to cover his get-away are impor- 
tant. Drawn blinds, covered windows, etc., should be noted. 

The salvaging of important or valuable articles in advance 
would be significant. Had jewelry, oil paintings, silverware, ex- 
pensive clothing or very valuable merchandise been removed; 
horses taken from stables or automobiles from garages? Had 
papers or valuable records been removed in advance? Were the 
goods destroyed unfashionable or out of season? 

If the person under suspicion can be found quickly he should 



PRACTICAL POLICE WORK 8< 

be subjected to rigid and searching examination, not only for 
the purpose of getting incriminating admission but to get his 
statements before there is time for concoction in order to check 
them up. Incendiarists are wily and pretend to misunderstand ; 
hence an officer who speaks their language should be present 
to assist in the questioning. 

The whereabouts of a suspect before and at the time of the 
fire, the persons in his company ; the insurance he carried ; how 
long it had been carried, should be ascertained. The better the 
alibi offered the more suspicious the detective should be. Inno- 
cent persons do not have their alibis all ready as the man who 
plots the thing in advance is likely to have. 

If an arrest be made his home if elsewhere should be 
searched for any thing in the nature of articles or documents that 
would prove evidential. An arrest should be made only after 
it is evident that the fire was criminal. The homes of near 
relatives might also bear investigation. 

Pyromaniacs 

Pyromaniacs usually stay in the neighborhood of the fire 
which they started to enjoy the excitement. They can be found 
in doorways in the immediate vicinity often with the evidence 
of their acts upon them. They have even been known to send 
ii the alarm or report the fire to a policeman. They generally 
live in the neighborhood and if there is evidence of pyromania 
the weak-minded of the neighborhood should be looked up. 

If the pyromaniac does not succeed in getting his first fire 
started he usually starts another and another. In fact two or 
three fires in the same neighborhood in the same night is often 
set by him. Whenever anything like that occurs the policeman 
should be extremely careful to notice anybody showing excite- 
ment or extreme interest in the fires. Frequently some of the 
substances which they used in setting the fires — oils, matches, 
excelsior, are carried around with them while the firemen are 
extinguishing the fires. 

Arson in First Degree 

A person who wilfully burns or sets on fire in the night time 

1. A dwelling house in which there is at the time a human 

being; or 

2. A car, vessel, or other vehicle, or a structure or build- 



& PRACTICAL POLICE WORK 

ing other than a dwelling house, wherein, to the knowl- 
edge of the offender, there is. at the time, a human being. 
Is guilty of arson in the first degree. 

Arson in Second Degree 

A person is guilty of arson in the second degree who: 

1. Commits an act of burning in the day time, which, if 

committed in the night time, would be arson in the first 
degree; or, 

2. Wilfully burns, or sets on fire, in the night time, a dwell- 

ing house, wherein, at the time, there is no human 
being; or, 

3. Wilfully burns, or sets on fire, in the night time, a 

building not inhabited but adjoining or within the cur- 
tilage of an inhabited building, in which there is, at the 
time, a human being, so that the inhabited building is 
endangered, even though it is not in fact injured by 
the burning; or, 

4. Wilfully burns, or sets on fire, in the night time, a car, 

vessel, or other vehicle, or a structure or building, ordi- 
narily occupied at night by a human being, although 
no person is within it at the time; or, 

5. Wilfully burns, or sets fire, a vessel, car, or other vehicle, 

or a building, structure, or other erection, which is at 
the time insured against loss or damage by fire, with 
intent to prejudice or defraud the insurer thereof. 

Arson in Third Degree 

A person who wilfully burns or sets on fire, a vessel, car, or 
other vehicle, or a building, structure, or other erection, 
under circumstances not amounting to arson in the 
first or second degree. 
Is guilty of arson in the third degree. 

Since burning to collect insurance was removed from third to 
second degree arson it is now difficult to tell what is arson in the 
third degree. 

Assault 

There are three degrees of assault. The first two are felo- 
nies, the third a misdemeanor, viz. : simple assault. A policeman 



PRACTICAL POLICE WORK 87 

for the purpose of an arrest should know whether the assault is 
simple or felonious. For the purpose of conviction he should be 
careful to note whether the conditions or circumstances make 
the crime one of the first or second degree. 
One kind of felonious assault includes : 

Deliberate and wrongful striking with a weapon or instru- 
ment likely to do grievous bodily harm. The harm need not 
have been done if the weapon used was likely to do it. 
Examples : 

Black stabbed White with a knife slightly injuring him. 
Felonious Assault. 

Black struck White with a cardboard box slightly injuring 
him. 

Simple Assault. 

Another way of committing felonious assault is to adminis- 
ter a drug, medicine or the like, if the drug be ordinarily harm- 
ful to life, and the intent be to do the victim injury. 
Examples : 

Black sent White a box of poisoned candy, which White 
partook of. 
Black, with evil intent, administered poison to his wife. 
Sometimes the police are called on to take action in cases 
where it is not clear that the person who administered the drug 
or poison had criminal intent. If a prima facie case be estab- 
lished, a summary arrest can be made. If, however, it is appar- 
ent that there was no criminal intent, an arrest should not be 
made except on a warrant. 
Example : 

Brown, a nurse, administered arsenic to Jones, a patient, 

injuring him, and on investigation it was apparent that 

it had been administered by mistake. 

A third way to commit felonious assault is to administer a 

drug, intoxicating narcotic or anesthetic agent with intent to effect 

the commission of another crime. 

Black, intending to rob White, put chloral in the beer which 

White was drinking. 
Black, while committing burglary in White's house, ad- 
ministered chloroform to the inmates. 
Black, intending to know a woman carnally, administered 
morphine to her. 
Grievous bodily injury, wilfully inflicted even without a 
weapon is a fourth way of committing felonious assault, as if 



88 PRACTICAL POLICE WORK 

Brown broke Jones's leg by striking him with an automobile he 
was operating wrecklessly. 

A fifth way to commit felonious assault is with intent to com- 
mit a felony, resisting a court order or a lawful arrest, as if 
Brown hit a woman while trying to rob her or hit a policeman to 
escape from custody. 

When the conditions attending the commission of an as- 
sault are not felonious, the assault is simple, and the crime is & 
misdemeanor. The most common are, unlawfully striking an- 
other with the hand, unlawfully pushing a person, slightly injur- 
ing a person by striking him with a weapon not likely to inflict 
serious bodily injury and the like. 

Degrees 

A person is guilty of Assault in the First Degree (Felony) 
who, with an intent to kill a human being, or to commit a 
felony upon the person or property of the one assaulted, or of 
another. 

i. Assaults another with a loaded fire arm, or other deadly 
weapon, or by any means or force likely to produce 
death; or 
2. Administers to or causes to be administered to or taken 
by another, poison, or any other destructive or noxious 
thing, so as to endanger the life of such other. 
A person is guilty of Assault in the Second Degree (Felony) 
who, under circumstances not amounting to the crime in the fore- 
going section : 

1. With intent to injure, unlawfully administers poison to, 
or causes to be administered to, or taken by another, 
or any other destructive or noxious thing, or any drug 
or medicine the use of which is dangerous to life or 
health; or 

2. With intent thereby to enable or assist himself or any 
other person to commit any crime; 

Administers chloroform, ether, laudanum to or causes 
to be administered to, or taken by another or any other 
intoxicating narcotic or anesthetic agent; or 

3. Wilfully and wrongfully assaults another by the use of 
a weapon, or other instrument or thing likely to pro- 
duce grievous bodily harm; or 

5. Assaults another with intent to commit a felony, or to 
prevent or resist the execution of any lawful process or 



PRACTICAL POLICE WORK 89 

mandate of any court or officer, or the lawful apprehen- 
sion or detention of himself, or of any other person. 
A person is guilty of Assault in the Third Degree (Misde- 
meanor) who commits an assault, or an assault and battery not 
specified in the foregoing. 

DYING DECLARATIONS 

Inasmuch as dying declarations must be taken in accord- 
ance with the statute, the methods of taking them should be 
carefully studied, otherwise the statement if taken would not be 
admissible as evidence. 

The thing of greatest importance is that the victim believes he 
is going to die as the result of the injuries received and makes a 
statement of the belief before making the declaration. 

The following is a sample of the questions that may be asked : 

O. What is your name? 

0. Where do you live? 

O. Do you now believe that you are about to die ? 

Q. Have you any hopes of recovery from the effects of the 
injury you have sustained ? 

Q. Are you willing to make a true statement as to how and 
in what manner you came by the injury from which you are now 
suffering ? 

Statement: (If posible the statement should be written out 
and the victim's signature obtained.) 

Witnesses : 



If the victim be about to die and does not believe it, the doctor 
should be requested to tell him so. If he still refuses to admit 
his belief in near death the statement cannot be admitted as 
evidence, but should be taken nevertheless. 

It is also a good plan to have the victim of a crime and the 
person accused confront each other. Important admissions or 
identifications are often obtained in this way. 

HOMICIDE 

Homicide is the most serious of all crimes. It is the taking of 
one human being's life by the act, procurement or omission of 
another. 

Homicide is divided into four kinds, two of which are 
•crimes and two of which are not. The two grades constituting 



go PRACTICAL POLICE WORK 

crime are called murder and manslaughter, and the other two 
are justifiable homicide and excusable homicide. A policeman 
should make an arrest surely in the first two, possibly in the 
other two cases in the interest of precaution. 

Both murder and manslaughter are felonies. There are two 
degrees of murder, but a policeman, is interested in the degree 
only on account of the nature of the evidence he is collecting. 

First degree murder is committed with deliberation and pre- 
meditation. 

Example : 

Black was jealous of White and killed him. 
By an act imminently dangerous to human life showing a de- 
praved mind. 
Example : 

Black in a spirit of caprice, fired a shot at White and killed 
him. 
While committing a felony. 
Example : 

Black robbed White ; as a result, White at the time died of 
heart disease. 
Second degree murder means the killing of another without 
deliberation and premeditation but intentionally. 
Example : 

Black accidentally met Brown who had wronged him, and 
on the impulse of the moment, shot and killed him. 
Manslaughter means the killing of another while committing; 
or attempting to commit a misdemeanor. 
Example : 

Brown struck White with his hand and caused White's 
death. 
While in the heat of passion. 
Example : 

Black and Brown had a quarrel, in the course of which 
Black impulsively drew a knife and killed him. 
While trespassing on a private right. 
Example : 

Black was trespassing in White's home and in trying to 
eject him, White lost his life. 
In the performance of an illegal abortion. 
Examples : 

Dr. Black performed a criminal abortion on Jane Doe, and 
killed her unborn quick child. 



PRACTICAL POLICE WORK 91 

Dr. Black performed a criminal abortion on Jane Doe, 

and caused her death. 
Jane Doe performed an abortion on herself, and killed her 
unborn quick child. 
By killing an unborn quick child through injury to the mother. 
Example : 

Black struck a woman quick with child, and caused a 
miscarriage. 
By an act of culpable negligence. 
Examples : 

Brown, an engineer having charge of a boiler, wilfully 
created an undue quantity of steam, causing the boiler to 
burst and kill White. 
Brown, an elevator operator, through gross neglect, left 
the door open. White stepped through it, fell through the 
shaft and was killed. 
Homicide is justifiable: 

When committed by the executioner of a man condemned by 
law to die. 

By a public officer when absolutely necessary, when over- 
coming actual resistance to a court order. 
Example : 

Patrolman Jones had entered Black's house to execute 
a search warrant. Black absolutely refused to permit 
the search, pointed a revolver at Jones, and threatened to 
shoot him if he did not immediately depart. Jones did 
his utmost to disarm him, and being unable to do so, 
shot him. 
By a public officer when absolutely necessary in arresting a 
prisoner for a felony. 
Example : 

Patrolman Jones had Black in custody for robbery. Black 
attempting to escape, knocked Jones down and endeav- 
ored to get possession of his revolver. As there was 
imminent danger of this, Jones shot him. 
By a public officer when absolutely necessary in performing 
a legal duty. 
Example : 

Black, after committing a robbery, was fleeing from the 

scene in an automobile. Patrolman Jones ordered him 

to stop, but he failed to obey. As there was imminent 

danger of his escaping Jones shot him. 

To prevent a person from committing a felony on the person 



92 PRACTICAL POLICE WORK 

of another when there is imminent danger of his doing so. 
Example : 

Black entered a bank, pointed a revolver at the cashier and 
commanded "Deliver that money or I'll shoot." White, 
the bank watchman, shot Black to prevent him from 
effecting the robbery. 
In self-defence when absolutely necessary. 
Example : 

Black, without provocation, shot at White with a revolver, 

and still kept it pointed at him. White to repel the 

attack, threw a stone at Black and killed him. 

Inasmuch as it is not always apparent to a policeman whether 

or not the homicide was justifiable, the safest plan to follow if 

there be any doubt whatsoever, is to make an arrest and leave the 

determination of guilt to the magistrate. 

Excusable Homicide is the killing of a person through acci- 
dent or misfortune, such as might happen during the performance 
of a lawful act by lawful means with ordinary caution and with- 
out unlawful intent. 
Examples : 

Dr. White caused his patient's death by accidentally ad- 
ministering the wrong medicine. . 
White was operating an automobile in a careful law-abiding- 
manner, and accidentally struck and killed Jones. 
White, a policeman, accidentally let his revolver fall to 
the ground ; it discharged and killed Jones. 
A summary arrest should not be made when the case is 
clearly one of excusable homicide. If, however, a person is 
killed or seriously injured by a vehicle, the driver, if a non- 
resident should be taken before a magistrate to determine the 
degree of culpability, if any. 

A homicide case is the most important occasion on which a 
policeman can perform his three duties towards evidence. Col- 
lect, Preserve, Present. He begins at the scene. He ends at 
the trial. 

At the scene of a homicide the work a policeman does and 
the extent of his inquiries will depend to a large extent upon 
whether : 

The murderer is known and has escaped; or 
Has escaped without being known ; or 
Has not escaped and is known. 

The last of the three is easiest, yet there are details which 
should not be overlooked. 



PRACTICAL POLICE WORK 93 

The police at the scene should summon medical aid, arrest 
the murderer, note his demeanor, record any statement he may 
make, examine his person and clothing for evidence, and line him 
up for the identification by witnesses ; secure the weapon or thing 
by which death was caused, note the exact place where found, 
mark it for identification, safe-guard any blood or other stains 
that may be on it. If a revolver had been used, note its make, 
calibre, number, and the number of empty and discharged cart- 
ridges in it ; search for any discharged bullets that did not enter 
the body, and empty cartridge shells if an automatic had been 
used. 

He should get material witnesses, take their statements, have 
them affix their signatures, keep them separate, and detain them 
until they give their version of the affair, while still fresh in 
their minds, to the detectives. 

He should measure the exact location of the body in relation 
to some fixed object, its exact position, note any evidence of a 
struggle that may be on it, safe-guard any knife cuts, powder or 
blood stains, or other evidence of a struggle that may be on the 
clothing, remove the body to the station house or morgue when 
permission of the Medical Examiner is obtained, and it has been 
examined by detectives and photographed if photographing be 
necessary. 

A policeman, preferably the one first at the scene, must iden- 
tify the body at the autopsy as being the one found at the place 
of the crime. The policeman who is to make such identification, 
should take such description of the body before its removal, 
have it identified by relatives if known, try to establish identity 
if unknown, place a tag on it containing its description and pedi- 
gree, and name of slayer if obtained. 

He must remove all property from the clothing in presence 
of witnesses and senior officer present, note, mark and tag 
clothing and property, deliver property to desk officer, and on 
the clothing being removed, keep it in his possession until de- 
livered to the property clerk of the Police Department. 

If the murderer be known and has escaped, the policeman 
first at the scene should quickly gather all the information 
possible, his description, how he left the scene, description of 
the vehicle used, if any, the direction he took, his residence, 
former residences, residences of relatives, where employed, asso- 
ciates, where likely to be found and telephone all such informa- 
tion to the desk officer for the purpose of a general alarm. 



94 PRACTICAL POLICE WORK 

Otherwise the procedure would be similar to that in all other 
cases. 

If the murderer has escaped without being known then the 
real hard work of investigation begins. The person who found 
the body must be questioned as to how it was disposed. Informa- 
tion must be gathered that might supply a motive. This should 
include a history of the deceased, those he was last seen with and 
his habits. Every trace left by the murderer should be carefully 
noted as foot-prints, finger-prints, tire marks, weapons, instru- 
ments, writings and photographs which often lead to detection. 

The detective who takes charge of a homicide case should 
direct, advise and assist the patrolmen who are present, take any 
necessary action that they have failed to take, examine any evi- 
dence that they have found and take possession of that which 
may aid him in a solution, examine all witnesses, and have their 
statements properly recorded, detain material witnesses until 
they give their version of the affair, while it is still fresh in. 
their minds to the District Attorney, Medical Examiner and 
possibly a Magistrate. 

He should institute searches, have body photographed if nec- 
essary, examine everything in the minutest degree and with the 
fullest detail that may have any bearing upon the manner of the 
crime, its author or motive. 

A headquarters should be established at the scene of every 
important homicide by the detective in charge. He should inform 
his commanding officer and other policemen working on the case 
of its location, and keep his commanding officer informed as to 
the progress that is being made. 

Desk Officer 

There are seven places that a desk officer may have to com- 
municate with in case of a homicide. They are the : 

Telegraph Bureau, 

Precinct Detectives, 

Homicide Bureau, 

District Attorney's office, 

Chief Medical Examiner's office, 

Commanding Officer, Precinct and District, 

Missing Person's Bureau, 

Friends or Family of Deceased. 

What additional duties the desk officer may have to perform 
will depend upon circumstances, and what is known in connection 
with the flight. 



PRACTICAL POLICE WORK 95 

If the murderer has escaped and is known, the Telegraph 
Bureau must be notified to send an alarm. If there be reason to 
believe that he will try to leave the city the Telegraph Bureau 
should be informed and requested to send immediate alarm to all 
police officers stationed at ferries, bridges, railroad terminals and 
telephone booths within the city and possibly to adjoining towns 
and cities. 

If results might be obtained by immediate action the infor- 
mation should also be sent out to the men on patrol in the pre- 
cinct by flash light, signal box and police booth. If the mur- 
derer is believed to be hiding in any particular building or build- 
ings in the precinct, the reserve must be sent to surround and 
search such place. 

A desk officer's duty in connection with a body brought to 
the station house is to : 

1. Supervise the search. 

2. Record and properly dispose of property found on the 
body. 

3. Notify the Missing Person's Bureau if unidentified. 

4. Note identifications if made. 

5. Notify morgue to remove, except Medical Examiner has 
given permission to remove it elsewhere. 

6. Make record of removal, by whom, and to where. 

7. Make report. 

Street Homicide 

A body found in the street or public place should not be 
moved until exact measurements are taken of its position. If in 
the center of the street it may be moved to the sidewalk after 
examination by a detective, but should not be removed to the 
station house until permission of the Medical Examiner is given. 
All the facts already enumerated should be gathered ; weather 
condition and everything else of moment noted in the memoran- 
dum book of the officer, and full details turned over to the de- 
tective who takes charge. The detective in addition to doing 
the things mentioned already, has the body photographed if neces- 
sary, exact measurements of the location taken, and everything 
of-importance about the person of the victim, such as bullet holes, 
knife cuts, powder marks, torn clothing, noted and recorded. 

Body Found in Vacant Ground 

The uniformed member of the Force first at the scene should : 



96 PRACTICAL POLICE WORK 

Report all the facts to the desk officer. 

Safe-guard the body from disturbance pending the arrival 
of a detective. . 

Note in his memorandum book the position of the body and 
its surroundings. 

Safe-guard any foot-print, or other evidence that might lead 
to the identity of the perpetrator, or person who placed the 
body there. 

Keep all unauthorized persons a reasonable distance away 
from the body and permit none to leave the scene until the 
arrival of a detective. 

The detective on reaching the scene should try to determine 
how long before the finding of the body the murder occurred; 
whether it occurred there or elsewhere, and if elsewhere, how 
long the body lay at that place. This he can usually do by ob- 
serving the state of decomposition ; the condition of the soil under 
it, the manner of its disposal, and the presence or absence of 
evidence of a struggle. If the murder occurred there, the 
murderer's and the victim's foot-steps may be found ; if else- 
wmere, then only the murderer's or his accomplices. Foot-steps 
found adjacent to the body should be compared with those of 
persons lawfully at the scene for the purpose of cancellation, and 
possibly with the victim's. Foot-steps that might be the perpe- 
trator's should be measured and casts of them taken. The de- 
tective should be able to approximate the slayer's height from 
the length of the foot-print, his weight from the depth of the im- 
pression, the shape of his feet from the angle* made by the toes 
with the line of direction, and whether he carried the body from 
the length and regularity of his stride. 

Casts should be taken of any tire marks found and the dis- 
tance between tires carefully measured. Samples of the soil and 
any vegetation such as burdocks, should be secured, as such 
substances may be found adhering to the suspect's clothing or 
shoes. Conditions around the body and any box or clothing in 
which it might be wrapped or enclosed should be noted so that 
previous possession or place of purchase may be traced and the 
body photographed before removal. 

Homicide in Dance Hall 

The patrolman who discovers a homicide in a dance hall, 
cabaret or place of public amusement, and the detective who 
investigates it, in addition to the precautions already mentioned, 



PRACTICAL POLICE WORK 97 

should take measures to prevent anybody from leaving until 
thorough search is made. The names of those present should as 
far as possible be obtained. 

Homicide in Joint 

Similar precautions should be taken if the killing occurred 
in a saloon or "joint/' Besides, the persons present should be 
kept from conferring to guard against a possible "frame-up," and 
in addition if they were of unsavory reputation, all should be 
held as principals or witnesses. 

Homicide in Private House 

When a homicide occurs in a private house, the patrolman 
who enters first should note in his book the position of the body, 
evidences of a struggle if any, condition of doors and windows, 
lights, furniture, etc. Unauthorized persons should be kept out 
and the general precautions otherwise adherred to. 

The detective who investigates the crime is to: 

1. Establish the crime. 

2. Look for a motive. 

3. Detect and arrest the criminal. 

The crime can be established from the condition of the body 
and surroundings. The motive can be ascertained by looking 
up the history of the victim and the criminal detected from 
the trail of evidence he leaves, circumstances, etc. 

A number of persons if present at the place of the crime, 
obstructs investigation, upsets calculations by a multitude of 
theories and is dangerous as a means of communicating with the 
criminal. They should be dispensed with. 

A struggle can be evidenced by overthrown furniture. The 
weapon, article or substance used to kill may be lying around 
or traces of the substances be discovered in a bottle or a 
package. The manner of the muderer's exit and entrance may 
be evident from the appearance of a door or window. 

Search to be effective should be thorough and not haphazard. 
The good detective does not hesitate to go down on all fours and 
examine everything with the closest scrutiny. Every square of 
the carpet should be gone over separately and nothing overlooked. 

Knives, glasses or revolvers may bear finger-prints ; walls and 
door knobs may have blood stains, foot-prints may be visible and 



98 PRACTICAL POLICE WORK 

important, though not apparent to a casual observer, capable 
of development, and of being photographed by a dusting of 
powdered chalk on a dark damp surface, or powdered graphite 
on a light surface. The print of a naked foot damp from perspi- 
ration can be developed in this way and a photograph made of it. 

When an article is found that may be useful as evidence, its 
exact position in relation to the body is important enough to be 
noted. 

When a revolver was used to commit the crime, the usual 
conditions as to calibre, number, shells, etc., are not only essen- 
tial, but there are other things. Where are the bullets? Are 
there any bullet marks? What was the angle at which the re- 
volver was held? This last is often important in disposing of 
claims of self-defence. 

Blood stains should not be removed from a knife. Dust or 
dirt in the grooves may yield important evidence by being identi- 
cal with similar substances found in the pockets of the accused. 

Clubs, bottles, iron bars, hatchets or the like which bear 
stains of any kind should be preserved for the stains, as similar 
articles with similar stains may be found in the possession of 
the accused. A man was once convicted, but on a second trial 
acquitted because a piece of *lead pipe was found in his cellar 
similar to a piece of lead pipe found in the room of the crime, 
and lead stains were found on the underclothes of the man him- 
self. Brick dust on a bloody hatchet once led to the arrest of a 
bricklayer who owned it and established the authors of the crime. 
Tools in other trades may bear similar tell tale marks. 

The wrapping of a bottle containing poison is often more im- 
portant than the bottle itself. A button torn off in the scuffle 
led to the identity of him who bombed Russel Sage. Two hairs 
on a hat may establish whether the murderer was blonde, dark or 
red-headed. A cigarette butt at the scene may be of the brand 
the murderer smoked; a burned match like others in his pos- 
session. A hat may bear the maker's name, or a coat the tailor's. 
Laundry marks are of the greatest importance. Therefore, noth- 
ing can be overlooked, nothing considered too trifling as the 
truth often lies in the smallest detail. 

From the victim's body can sometimes be obtained evidence 
to incriminate. Clothing torn from the prepetrator may adhere, 
so may hairs, etc., to the hands. In certain crimes other evi- 
dence can be found by the medical examiner. 

The statements of witnesses during an investigation cannot 
always be relied upon. Many persons are habitually inaccurate. 



PRACTICAL POLICE WORK 99 

Under the excitement of an unusual occasion, they become more 
so. They exaggerate. They prevaricate. Others are reticent to 
avoid trouble or notoriety. To sift the truth from one and draw 
out the other is a lesson in detective work. 

Six or seven ordinary and seemingly unrelated incidents if 
told by as many persons may make a chain of circumstances from 
which an important deduction may be made. No statements, 
however trivial, having any possible bearing on the case, should, 
therefore, be discarded in the course of criminal investigation. 

Motive 

Of greatest importance is the motive for the deed. Motives 
have their foundation in the wickedness and weakness of human 
nature. Generally they are: 
Greed of gain. 
Sex jealousy. 
Revenge and anger. 
Moral depravity and perversity. 
Fear of disgrace. 
Crank's delusions. 
When greed of gain is the motive, the question of what is 
to be gained and by whom, should be carefully gone into. The 
amount concerned and the previous character of the suspects 
are important in running down a clue supplied by this motive. 

Revenge as the motive might be inferred from previous quar- 
rels or injuries inflicted, previous intrigues with a woman dis- 
carded, or anything that would cause a person with unbalanced 
mind to seek to get even. 

Jealousy as a motive arises from a man carrying on love 
affairs with two women, or with one woman when married, or 
with any woman when he himself is married, or vice versa, in the 
case of a woman. 

Moral depravity and perversity applies to persons so depraved 
morally as to be capable of committing murder to gratify their 
perverted tastes. All beastly crimes are of this nature. 

Fear of disgrace is the motive which sometimes prompts an 
unmarried woman to kill her illegitimate child. 

Prominent persons have most to fear from cranks. 
When the motive has been established, criminal responsibility 
must be fixed on the accuser. This can be helped by threats if 
made, the time he was last seen in the locality, his opportunity 
to be in that place at the time of the occurrence. 



ioo PRACTICAL POLICE WORK 

Pursuit 

The next step is the pursuit. Pursuit should be persistent, 
merciless, tireless. Persistency, more persistency, and still more 
persistency is the word that in dectective work spells success. 
Every clue should be followed to its end, every theory investigated, 
every report run down, until the accused is secured. 

Demeanor and Conduct 

The demeanor and conduct of an accused when arrested is 
important and may be testified to in court. Attempt to get away 
or elude discovery, anxiety to conceal facts, agitation, fear, all 
have some evidential value, but they may have even greater value 
in leading to the discovery of evidence yet undiscovered. State- 
ments volunteered should be recorded as should answers to ques- 
tions if of value. 

The prisoner's person, clothing or articles carried may yield 
evidence, evidence of a struggle, of finger marks, scratches, bites 
or blood. Underneath the finger nails, blood may find an abiding 
place. The prisoner's room or house may furnish more evidence. 
It should be searched. Everything found should be collected, 
preserved, and ultimately presented in court. 

Autopsy 

It is a policeman's duty to identify the body to the doctor at 
the autopsy. It is a detective's duty to be present at the autopsy 
to learn what evidence it develops. 

Analysis 

When a substance used in connection with a crime is to be 
analysed, it should first be marked by the poilceman, sealed, de- 
scribed, and wrapped and preserved until delivered to the labora- 
tory. 

Suicide 

If a case of killing be not homicide, it may be suicide. A per- 
son who advised, assisted or encouraged it is guilty of man- 
slaughter. If not dead, any person who advised, assisted or en- 
couraged is guilty of felony. 



PRACTICAL POLICE WORK 



IOI 



The motive for this crime and the method of killing gener- 
ally establishes the character of the crime readily. For that rea- 
son everything of the kind already described as evidence should 
be collected, preserved and presented to the Medical Examiner. 

Dangerous Weapons 

There are two classes of dangerous weapons, the carry- 
ing or possession of which is forbidden. In the first class 
mere carrying or possession of the weapons is a misde- 
meanor. In the second class there must be an intention to 
use them against another person. Bombs and silencers are 
not strictly weapons. 

In the Case of the 



ist class 



Sand Bags 
Sand Clubs 
Billies 

Slung Shots 
Black Jacks 
Bludgeons 
Metal Knuckles 



Knowing and voluntary posses- 
sion or control is presumptive- 
evidence of an intent to make 
unlawful use of them; peace 
officers excepted. . 



In the case of 



Dangerous Knives 
Dirks 

Razors, particu- 
larly when nicked 
Daggers and others 



2nd class : 

Intent to make unlawful 
use of them can be pre- 
sumed if they are con- 
cealed or furtively car- 
ried on the person by 
any person other than a 
public officer. 
A former convict who carries or possesses such weapons is 
guilty of a felony when a non-convict is guilty of a misdemeanor. 
The manufacture, sale, keeping for sale or giving away of 
weapons belonging in the first class is a misdemeanor. 

Commonsense should guide a policeman in making arrests 
for possessing dangerous weapons, particularly when the weapon 
belongs in the second class. Evidence of intent good or bad may 
be gleaned from the furtiveness with which the weapon is carried 



J02 PRACTICAL POLICE WORK 

or concealed, the attempt or threat to use ic against another, the 
character and business of the possessor, as a butcher with a 
knife, a curio dealer or collector with any kind of a weapon 
tyould be natural. 
Examples : 

If a black jack were found in Brown's trunk or in his 
pocket, or in a drawer to which he only had access or 
handy to his hand in a place controlled by him, it would 
be presumptive evidence of possession. 
If Black with a dangerous knife in his hand were pur- 
suing White with whom he had quarreled, or had a stiletto 
concealed in his stocking, or had threatened to assault 
White and was loitering near White's home with a sword, 
it would be presumptive evidence of unlawful intent 
to use. 
If White were a soldier on duty and armed with a billy, or 
a peace officer posssesed of a blackjack, or a curio 
dealer and had an old slung shot in his curio cabinet, or a 
mechanic and possessed the razor, knife or other weapon 
used by him in his trade, such possession would not be 
a crime. 
To make, carry or possess a bomb or bomb-shell is a felony. 
This includes a stick of dynamite or other such explo- 
sive provided it is to be used unlawfully. It is a felony 
to ship explosives by a common carrier without revealing 
their nature. It is a felony unlawfully to place explosives 
near a building, car or vessel, where people are likely to 
be, so that their lives are put in danger. 
It is a felony to carry or possess a maxim or other silencer. 
Bombs should be guarded until taken possession of .by an 
agent of the Bureau of Explosives. 

Constitutional Possession Regulated 

While the United States Constitution guarantees the right of 
citizens to bear and carry arms, the State has passed laws regu- 
lating the manner in which they may be borne or carried. This 
is done under the doctrine of the Police power of the State. 

The law requires that a person must have a permit 
i. To possess a concealable firearm. 

2. To carry a concealed firearm. 

3. To carry a concealable firearm. 

4. To carry or possess any kind of a firearm if an alien. 



PRACTICAL POLICE WORK ia? 

The exceptions to this rule are: 
i. Firearms kept for sale by bonafide dealers. 

2. Transportation of firearms as merchandise. 

3. Possession of firearms by persons exercising the func- 
tions of peace officers. 

4. Possession of firearms by the Military or Naval force 
of the State or Nation in the line of duty. 

5. Possession of firearms by the members of duly au- 
thorized civil organizations, while parading or going to 
or from the meeting place of their respective or- 
ganizations. 

Permits to carry or possess concealable firearms are issued 
in the City of New York by the Police Commissioner and else- 
where in the State by Magistrates. A stub must be attached to 
this permit. Such stub must be retained by the seller of the 
firearm. 

A former convict who carries or possesses firearms unlaw- 
fully is guilty of a felony. A non-convict is guilty of a misde- 
meanor. 

Retail dealers can sell concealable firearms only to persons 
with a permit or to those authorized to carry them. They must 
make a full record of the sale and the purchaser. They must not 
sell to children under sixteen years of age. Violation is a 
misdemeanor. 

The unlawful discharge of a firearm or a gun, or the throwing 
of a deadly missile even though no damage is done, is a misde- 
meanor. So is the pointing without malice of a firearm at a 
person or its unintentional discharge while pointed to the injury 
of that person or another. 

Manner of Carrying Weapons 

Dangerous weapons when carried unlawfully on the person 
and not in the pocket are found : 

1. Down the trouser leg or in front of the trousers. 

2. In the stocking. 

3. Inside the sleeve or up the sleeve. 

4. In the crown of derby hats. 

5. About the neck. 

6. In muffs, bosoms, etc. 

All Violence 'Not Crime 

Every act of violence offered one person by another is 



104 PRACTICAL POLICE WORK 

not a crime. The law mentions six cases where they are not 
crimes. They are: 

1. By a public officer, or one assisting him, necessarily in 
the performance of a legal duty. 

Example : 

If White, a sheriff, in obedience to the order of a court, 
were seizing Smith's goods and Smith resitsed the seiz- 
ure, White could lawfully overcome such resistance. It 
would be lawful for Jones, a civilian, to assist White. 

2. By a person arresting another for a felony, when neces- 
sary and in delivering him to an officer. 

Example : 

If White, a private person, knowing that Brown commit- 
ted a felony, arrested him and Brown resisted, White 
could use all necessary force to overcome such resistance. 

3. By a person repelling an attack upon himself or an- 
other or a trespass upon his property provided unnecessary 
force be not used. 

Examples : 

If Black unlawfully struck at White with or without a 
weapon. White to prevent injury, or to prevent recur- 
rence, would be justified in striking Black. He would not 
be justified in striking Black to punish him for having 
committed such assault as punishment is a function of 
the Court. 

If Black unlawfully entered Brown's house and refused to 
leave when ordered. Brown would be justified in using 
all the necessary force to eject him. He would not be 
justified in using force after he had ejected him, or using 
force to punish him for the trespass. 

4. By a parent, guardian or teacher in lawfully correcting a 
child, if the force used be moderate and reasonable. 

Example : 

If White's son were keeping bad company, not attending 
school, or doing other things that might corrupt him, 
White would have the right to correct such habits by 
chastising him. He would have no right to use any 
unnecessary or brutal force. Parents have no right to 
strike their children except to correct them. 

5. By the agent of a public carrier of passengers in ejecting 
a passenger who refuses to abide by a reasonable regulation of 
the company if the vehicle has first been stopped and only rea- 
sonable force is employed. 



PRACTICAL POLICE WORK 105 

Example : 

If Brown were a passenger on a street railway car and re- 
fused to pay his fare, or was disorderly, the conductor, 
motorman or any other person assisting at his request 
could, lawfully, use all the force necessary to eject him, 
provided the car was first stopped and reasonable care 
was taken not to injure him. If he resisted ejection by 
taking hold of something and received injury through 
doing so, the persons ejecting him would not be respon- 
sible, but if the persons ejecting him threw him violently 
from the car, causing him injury, or any of them struck 
him except in self-defence, such act would be unlawful. 
6. By a person in preventing a lunatic or irresponsible per- 
son from doing injury to himself or another or in restraining 
him when confined in an institution, provided the force be rea- 
sonable. 

Example : 

A policeman whose attention is called to an insane person 
in a public place, or any other place where he cannot be 
properly cared for pending the arrival of an ambulance,, 
should remove such person to the station house. If such 
person is temporarily in safe keeping, he should summon 
an ambulance and have him taken to a hospital. Some- 
times the friends or relatives of an insane person refuse 
to permit his removal to a public hospital. Forcible re- 
moval should only be resorted to under such circum- 
stances as if the ambulance surgeon in attendance state 
that immediate removal is necessary to prevent his in- 
juring himself or some other person; or removal is or- 
* dered by a magistrate. 



Vl CHAPTER VIII 

CRIMES— RIOTS TO ROBBERY 

Riots and Unlawful Assemblies 

Riots and unlawful assemblies are of the same nature. Riot 
is the more serious and is a felony; unlawful assembly is a mis- 
demeanor. Both require three or more persons for their com- 
mission. In both there must be an assembly. In riot there is 
an act, a threat or an attempt. In unlawful assembly there is 
no act beyond that of assembling, but there may be a threat or 
an attempt and an intent to do an unlawful act by force. 

The act which rioters must perform is the disturbance of 
the public peace by using force or violence to any person or 
property. Before an attempt or threat can be considered a riot 
the power to put either into immediate execution must be 
.present. 

When an act of violence has not been committed the dis- 
tinction between the two is that when force or violence is threat- 
ened and there is power behind it, a riot is committed; when 
those assembled just talk it is only unlawful assembly even 
though the talk is a threat to use force. 

All persons participating in an unlawful assembly are mis- 
demeanants. Persons assembling) peaceably for lawful pur- 
poses to protest or petition violate no law. To remain at a = place 
of riot or unlawful assembly after a magistrate or public officer 
lias ordered those assembled to disperse is a misdemeanor. This 
does not include persons who may stay to help the police. Civil- 
ians upon request must aid the police in suppressing a riot or 
dispersing rioters, protecting persons or property or making 
arrests or be chargeable with a misdemeanor. 

In the handling of a mob disposed to be riotous a knowledge 
of "mob psychology" is valuable. It is analagous to a fire which 
is extinguished in its incipiency, comparatively harmless, but 
may become very dangerous if allowed to grow. 

106 



PRACTICAL POLICE WORK 107 

Psychology of Crowds 

In its ordinary sense, the word "crowd" means a gathering 
of individuals of whatever nationality, profession or sex, re- 
gardless of the means or purpose that has brought them together. 
A riot many times has its inception in the gathering of a crowd 
to agitate a real grievance. As the agitation proceeds, the ideas 
of all persons in the gathering gradually take the same direction, 
and their conscious personalities vanish. When this stage is 
reached, the gathering may be said to be organized. 

If injury to persons or damage to property be advocated to 
cure the particular grievance, or as a means of revenge because 
of it, and some members of the crowd assume responsi- 
bility of leadership, the others, because of their being in numbers, 
have no sense of individual responsibility, feel possessed of in- 
vincible power, and even if law-abiding and inoffensive citizens, 
ordinarily, swayed by the mob spirit, commit acts of cruelty and 
violence, particularly if they feel that they are unobserved 
and unknown. 

Most persons in such a crowd feel that they are doing wrong, 
but they do it because the crowd urges and drives, and because, 
they have not sufficient will power to oppose the action of the 
mob of which they are a part. 

Riots can frequently be prevented by the police keeping the 
people moving and not letting them "organize." If moving be 
not sufficient an effort should be made to disperse them. As 
ringleaders are the center around which "organization" takes 
place an arrest of these ringleaders or of the more active dis- 
turbers often prevents a resort to violence. 

When force or violence has been resorted to, it should be 
met with force by the police and those committing the violence 
or inciting to it should be arrested. Judgment and discretion, 
however, are necessary and no more force should be used than 
is called for by the occasion. After dispersal the crowd should, 
be kept moving and not allowed to collect again. 

RIGHT OF FREE SPEECH 

The right to meet, to speak one's mind and to write one's 
opinions freely is a prerogative guaranteed by the Constitution. 
That is why street meetings as a general rule cannot be interfered 
with by the police. 

Constitutional rights are sometimes regulated in their exer- 



108 PRACTICAL POLICE WORK 

cise by the police power, that is when their unrestricted exercise 
would interfere with other rights of equal or more importance. 
Permits for outdoor religious meetings or any meeting on park 
property are required but for other kinds of street meetings 
no permit is needed. 

One of the other rights which free speech cannot interfere 
with is the right of free traffic. A meeting without a permit 
cannot interfere with the free passage either of vehicles or pe- 
destrians on the street where it is held. When a permit is 
granted then the rights of the persons holding the meeting 
supercedes those of pedestrians, etc., who must take another 
route. A meeting under a permit can occupy a designated place 
during the time for which it was granted, another meeting must 
either keep a space open or itself move to some other place less 
congested. The regulation of this condition is a police func- 
tion and anybody obstructing is liable to arrest or summons. 

The right to hold a meeting does not include the right to 
sell books or pamphlets ; neither does it carry with it the right 
to be disorderly or riotous. The speakers can criticise and de- 
nounce as freely as they please provided they do not overstep 
the bounds fixed by law. Meetings may, however, become a 
public nuisance, but the police should not take it upon them- 
selves to determine this. Let those who complain carry their 
complaints to a magistrate. When held too late at night their 
character as a nuisance disturbing the comfort or repose of 
others mav be obvious. In such cases the police should dis- 
perse them. 

The American Flag must be displayed at every public meet- 
ing in a public thoroughfare; while the display of the red or 
black flag or any flag or insignia sacriligious or immoral, is pro- 
hibited by ordinance. The display of the red flag in any public 
assembly is a misdemeanor. 

Baptists for baptismal ceremonies and the Salvation Army 
can hold religious services on the street, the one by law, the 
other by a general permit. Other religious meetings without 
permits are illegal and should be prevented by the police. 

Strikes 

The right of employees to strike for better conditions is 
guaranteed by law. That right is subject to two important modi- 
fications. A person in charge of an engine or machinery com- 
mits a misdemeanor who strikes without first safeguarding it. 



PRACTICAL POLICE WORK 109 

A person under a contract of employment commits a misde- 
meanor who by leaving his post exposes life or valuable prop- 
erty to destruction or serious injury. 
Examples : 

A number of bakers put a batch of bread in an oven then 

went on strike and let the bread burn. 
A number of blasters put dynamite in the holes to be 
blasted, and then went on strike without firing the blast. 
Persons on strike have the right by law to picket the place 
of employment and peaceably induce others not to take their 
jobs, to ask associates to join in the strike, or to advise pros- 
pective customers of the existence of a strike. But they have 
no right to be disorderly, persistent, threatening or annoying. 
Neither have they a right to violate the ordinance forbidding the 
obstruction of traffic and if doing so should be made by the 
police to "move on" or if necessary "move in." 

The offences that may arise out of a strike are : Riot, un- 
lawful assembly, obstruction of traffic, assault and disorderly 
■conduct. 

Handling Strike 

To prevent the occurrence of any of the foregoing a strike 
should be taken in hand as soon as it is reported. The cause of it, 
number striking, name and business of employer, name and ad- 
dress of strike leader and nationality of strikers are information 
that will be likely to prove useful to the police. This should be 
telephoned to the desk officer by the patrolman on post and 
furnished to other officers who may have to do with the handling 
of the strike. The facts should be recorded and furnished to 
the Telegraph Bureau, the District Inspector and the Captain 
of the precinct. 

The general plan of handling a local strike is a matter for the 
Captain. He has to look out for the protection necessary for 
the employer's help and property. The one may be injured the 
other destroyed. A plan of action must be based upon certain 
knowledge, therefore the Captain should find out for himself 
the time employees go and come from work; the routes they 
take ; the hour for lunch ; the manner in which goods are de- 
livered and the methods of their delivery in order that prop- 
erty and employees may receive police protection. 

Two recommendations should be made to the employer: 

t That employees come to work, leave for home ami go to 
Junch in a body. 



no PRACTICAL POLICE WORK 

2. That entrances be guarded and no suspicious persons 
allowed to enter. 

The rights of the strikers should be explained to the em- 
ployer and strikers and both should be cautioned against em- 
ploying ''strong-armed men" for the purpose of beating the 
strikers or strikebreakers. 

When a special post has not been established at the place of 
strike two or four patrol posts should be arranged to converge. 
This will enable the patrolmen on those posts to meet at that 
point in such a way as to have the place always covered. It also 
enables the patrolmen on post to convey employees to and from 
cars and guard them against molestation or assault. If necessary 
detectives should be assigned to guard against assaults. 

Since goods for the employer may be injured in other pre- 
cincts and employees are apt to be assaulted about their places 
of abode the co-operation of other precinct commanders is often 
necessary to give protection. Strikes in tenement house dis- 
tricts are often attended by the throwing of missiles from the 
roofs. Police stationed on the roofs can prevent this. The de- 
tectives and the sergeant of patrol are important in. the handling 
of strikes: the one to detect criminal acts, the other to keep the 
station posted on conditions. 

The number of pickets that may be employed in any specified 
instance is left to the discretion of the commanding officer, due 
regard being had for the width of the street and sidewalk, the 
number of persons still at work, the size of the building involved,, 
the number of its exits and their size, the number of neutrals 
using the sidewalk, etc., but they should not be permitted in 
such numbers as to obstruct the free entry and exit from the 
employer's place, nor in crowds which might obstruct the passage 
of persons from such place. 

Whenever a strike or lockout is threatened the Mayor is re- 
quired to report that fact to the Industrial Commission; therefore 
the Police Department should report such a condition to him. 

Criminal Anarchy 

Criminal anarchy is an odd kind of crime. Few policemen 
understand the law against it. No other State law makes the 
mere use of language even with intent a felony. What is criminal 
Anarchy ? 

To understand the crime it is first best to understand the 
doctrine of anarchy which is coun founded with socialism to 



PRACTICAL POLICE WORK in 

which it is diametricaly opposed. The doctrine of anarchy 
teaches the overthrow of all organized government. Such a 
doctrine is not a crime. Such a doctrine is taught and advo- 
cated in a number of schools including the Rand School and 
its branches. 

When does the teaching of the doctrine become a crime? 
When it is coupled with the teaching that the overthrow should 
be accomplished by 

1. Force or violence; 

2. Assassination of executive head or any executive official 
of government; 

3. Any unlawful means. 

The teaching can be done either by word of mouth or by 
writing. Direct advocacy of the overthrow of government by the 
means specified is not necessary if the duty, necessity or pro- 
priety is taught, advised or advocated. 

Who May Be Guilty 

Everybody having to do with the production of printed or 
written matter and having accurate knowledge of its contents, as 
well as everybody associating himself with an organization or 
group that teaches, advises or advocates criminal anarchy is 
guilty. 

It is also a felony and anarchy to justify orally or in writing 
the killing of any executive or other officer of the United States, 
the State or foreign civilized nation with intent to spread or 
teach the propriety of the doctrine of criminal anarchy. 

The above does not mean that every advocacy of the killing of 
.an executive is criminal anarchy as many policemen seem to 
Relieve. It must be coupled with the intent to overthrow or- 
ganized government through that means. 

To assemble for the purpose of teaching or advocating 
criminal anarchy in groups of two or more is a felony. To let 
rooms for that purpose is a misdemeanor. Whoever lets the 
rooms is liable be he owner, agent, superintendent, janitor, care- 
taker or occupant provided he did it knowingly. Warning from 
the police in advance is knowledge that leaves him liable. 

Evidence Hard to Get 

Evidence of criminal anarchy is hard to get. Nearly all 
anarchists speak foreign languages and are very secretive. Then 



ii2 PRACTICAL POLICE WORK 

the meaning of statements is often hard to interpret. They should, 
if possible, be taken by a person who understands the language 
and laid before a magistrate for his action. For the purpose of 
enabling the police authorities to make provision to do this, a 
patrolman who hears about a proposed anarchistic meeting should 
notify the station house in advance of the place, the time and 
the nationality of those about to hold it, so that a competent man 
who speaks the language may be assigned to get a report. 

Deportation of Aliens 

An Act of October 16, 191 8, states that there will be deported 
from the United States ailen members of the organizations be- 
lieving in: 

1. Overthrow of the Government of the United States by 
violence. 

2. Overthrow of all forms of law. 

3. Opposition to organized government. 

4. Duty, necessity or propriety of assassinating or killing 
Government officials or individuals connected with the 
Government. 

5. Unlawful destruction of property. 

Publication of literature, public speaking, or propaganda 
in private conversation advocating overthrow of the Gov- 
ernment and law by opposition to organized Government,, 
assaulting and killing of Government officials, and the un- 
lawful destruction of property included. 

Masks and Disguises 

Since disguises may be a means of hiding the identity of crim- 
inals the use of them is forbidden. Since they are a means of 
innocent enjoyment on occasions their use is permitted under 
written permit at masquerades, fancy dress balls or similar en- 
tertainments. The police grant such permits and they regulate 
the manner of using them and the extent to which they can be 
used. Unless such terms are complied with and permit obtained 
the proprietor of a place let for hire who allows it to be used 
mits a misdemeanor. 

If an unauthorized assembly of masked persons takes place 
the police can visit the place, compel the masked to unmask, ar- 
rest the proprietor if he had guilty knowledge of the violation 
as well as others who guiltily participated in the affair. 



PRACTICAL POLICE WORK 113 

Conspiracy 

Conspiracy is the consorting of two or more persons for an 
unlawful or evil purpose. There are six things they may con- 
spire to do which are criminal. They are : 

1. To commit a crime; or 

2. To indict another falsely and maliciously for a crime, 
or to procure another to be complained of or arrested for 
a crime; or 

3. To institute or maintain an action or special proceeding 
falsely; or 

4. To cheat and defraud another out of property by means 
which are in themselves criminal, or which, if executed, 
would amount to a cheat, or to obtain money or any other 
property by false pretenses; or 

5. To prevent another from exercising a' lawful trade or 
calling, or doing other lawful act, by force, threats, in- 
timidation, interfering or threatening to interfere with 
tools, implements, or property belonging to or used by 
another, or with the use or employment thereof; or 

6. To commit any act injurious to the public health, to 
public morals, or to trade or commerce, or for the per- 
version or obstruction of justice, or of the due adminis- 
tration of the laws. 

Conspiracy Against the State 

If two or more persons while out of this State, conspire to 
commit any act against the peace of this State, the commission, 
or attempted commission of which within this State would be 
treason against the State, they are punishable by imprisonment 
in a State's prison not exceeding ten years. 

Overt Act When Necessary 

No agreement except to commit a felony upon the person of 
another, or to commit arson, or burglary, amounts to a conspiracy, 
unless some act besides such agreement be done to effect the 
object thereof by one or more of the parties to the agreement. 

A combination of workmen to get an increase of wages by 
peaceful means is not conspiracy, when threats or violence are 
not used. When they threaten or attempt to use unlawful means 
the police have the right to interfere to stop them. 



ii 4 PRACTICAL POLICE WORK 

Farmers, gardeners, live stock raisers and fruit growers can 
combine by special legislative authority to make collective sales 
or market their produce. That is the reason why the dairy deal-, 
ers could not be punished for raising the price of milk on 
agreement. 

After several persons have conspired to commit an offence, 
the acts of any one of them affects them all, but the statement 
of one of them will affect only the person making them. 

Disorderly Persons 

There is a semi-criminal class known to the law as Disorderly 
Persons. They are : 

i. Persons who actually abandon their wives or children, 
without adequate support, or leave them in danger of 
becoming a burden upon the public, or neglect to provide 
for them. 

2. Persons who threaten to run away, and leave their wives 
or children a burden upon the public. 

3. Persons pretending to tell fortunes, or to tell where lost 
or stolen goods may be found. 

4. Keepers of bawdy houses or houses for the resort of 
prostitutes, drunkards, tipplers, gamesters, habitual crim- 
inals, or other disorderly persons. 

5. Persons with no visible profession or calling by which 
to maintain themselves, but who do so, for the most part, 
by gaming. 

6. Jugglers, common showmen and mountebanks, who ex- 
hibit or perform for profit, puppet showmen, wire or rope 
dancers, or performers of other idle shows, acts, or feats. 

7. Persons who keep in a public highway or place, an appa- 
ratus or device for the purpose of gaming or who go 
about exhibiting tricks or gaming therewith. 

8. Persons who play in a public highway or place, with cards, 
dice or any other apparatus or device for gaming. 

9. Habitual criminals within the provisions of this code. 
The law requires that proceedings against them be com- 
menced by complaint and warrant, habitual criminals excepted. 

Vagrant 

A vagrant was originally a wandering criminal of the type 
once called a vagabond. 



PRACTICAL POLICE WORK 115 

A Vagrant is now : 

1. A person who, not having visible means to support him- 
self lives without employment," or 

2. Who, being an habitual drunkard, abandons, neglects, or 
refuses to aid in the support of his family, or 

3. Who has contracted an infectious or other disease in the 
practice of drunkenness or debauchery, requiring charit- 
able aid to restore him to health ; 

4. A person: 

(a) Who offers to commit prostitution, or 

(b) Who offers to secure a female person for the pur- 

pose of prostitution, or for any other lewd or in- 
decent act, or 

(c) Who loiters in or near a thoroughfare or public or 

private place for the purpose of inducing, enticing 
or procuring another to commit lewdness, fornica- 
tion, or any other indecent act, or 

(d) Who in any manner induces, entices or procures a 

person who is in any thoroughfare or public or 
private place, to commit any such acts, or 

(e) Who is a common prostitute, who has no lawful em- 

ployment whereby to maintain herself. 

5. A person wandering abroad and begging, who goes about 
from door to door, or places himself in the streets, high- 
ways, passages, or other public places to beg or receive 
alms, or 

6. One lodging in taverns, groceries, alehouses, watch or 
station houses, out houses, market places, sheds, stables, 
barns or uninhabited buildings, or in the open air, and 
not giving a good account of himself; 

7. One who, having his face painted, discolored, covered or 
concealed, or disguised, in a manner calculated to prevent 
his being identified, appears in a road or public highway, 
or in a field, lot, wood or inclosure; 

8. Any child between the age of five and fourteen, having 
sufficient bodily health and mental capacity to attend the 
public schools, wandering in the streets or lane of any 
city or incorporated village, a truant without any lawful 
occupation ; 

9. A person more than once convicted as a pickpocket, thief, 
or burglar and having no visible means to support himself, 
found loitering about steamboat landings, railroad stations, 
banking institutions, crowded thoroughfares, cars, omni- 



n6 PRACTICAL POLICE WORK 

buses, hotels, or any public gathering, or assembly, and 
unable to give a satisfactory explanation of his presence. 

NOTE : If such criminal has been adjudged an habitual crim- 
inal, he may also be charged with being a disorderly 
person. 

NOTE: A person not a resident of the State who does an 
act which would make him guilty of vagrancy is 
classified as a tramp. 

Tramp 

A tramp is any person, not blind, over sixteen years, not re- 
siding in the county in which he may be at any time for a period 
■of six months prior thereto, who : 

i. Not having visible means to maintain himself, lives with- 
out employment, or 

2. Wanders abroad and begs, or goes about from door to 
door, or places himself in the streets, highways, passages, 
or public places to beg or receive alms ; or 

3. Wanders abroad and lodges in taverns, groceries, ale- 
houses, watch or station houses, outhouses, market places, 
sheds, stables, barns, or uninhabited buildings, or in the 
open air. and does not give a good account of himself. 

This section does not apply to cities of the first or second 
class — therefore, in the City of New York, a person so offending 
would be charged with vagrancy. 

Disorderly Conduct 

Xo charge is more often preferred by policemen than the 
-charge of Disorderly Conduct. The exact meaning of no crime 
lias been as much misunderstood. For a time some judges went 
so far as to say there was no such crime. 

Prior to the consolidation of the Greater City, the old city 
was governed under the Consolidated Act. The Charter displaced 
that act. but it did not displace provisions for which no substi- 
tute was provided, hence the provision of the Consolidated Act 
■defining disorderly conduct in the city was held to apply after 
other provisions of the act were superceded. 

The Consolidated Act denned Disorderly Conduct as "threat- 
•ening, abusive or insulting behavior, in any thoroughfare or pub- 
lic place in the city, with intent to provoke a breach of the peace. 



PRACTICAL POLICE WORK 117 

or whereby a breach of the peace may be occasioned." It is also 
classed as disorderly conduct: 

1. Suffer an unmuzzled ferocious dog to be at large. 

2. Loiter in the streets as night walkers or prostitutes. 
Under these provisions convictions are always obtainable in 

the city. 

Procedure 

When a person wishes to complain of the disorderly conduct 
of another and the policeman is not certain that the acts com- 
plained constitute the crime, the complainant lays such complaint 
under oath before a magistrate, and the conduct complained of is 
such as in the opinion of the magistrate tends to a breach of the 
peace then he may cause the person complained of to be brought 
before him to answer, according to the same law. 

The Penal Law makes an act or speech which is offensive 
yor disorderly a crime, provided it annoys or interferes with a 
person in any place. It makes the same thing punishable when 
the passengers in a public stage, railroad car, ferry boat or other 
conveyance are offended. Finally it makes speech or conduct or 
display in a conveyance a misdemeanor when it disturbs or of- 
fends but does not amount to assault and battery. 

It will be seen that disorderly conduct can, therefore, be 
committed by zvord or act or display that is disorderly, provided 
it is likely to provoke a breach of the peace or cause offense to 
others. It differs in this State from the crime of being a disor- 
derly person which the statute defines in the way already shown. 
In some States they mean the same thing. 

Influence of Time and Place 

Speech or conduct which under one circumstance or in a 
certain place might be harmless would, in another be disorderly 
conduct. The likelihood of its provoking a breach of the peace 
is another consideration. A person who during a concert in a 
church shouted. "Hurrah for the President/' might be guilty of 
disorderly conduct while such an exclamation might be alto- 
gether proper at a political meeting. 

When a meeting is held for a particular purpose, or to advo- 
cate a certain doctrine or policy, it might be disorderly conduct 
to interrupt a speaker who was discussing the subject and argu- 
ing for his side in an orderly and inoffensive way, particularly 
if the interruption was apt to provoke a breach of the peace. 

It is disorderly conduct to interrupt a speaker with a hostile 



n8 PRACTICAL POLICE WORK 

expression, as well as for the purpose of getting him to discuss 
another matter than that on which he was calking, as in the case 
of the suffragettes who have at times insisted upon a discussion 
of suffrage by public men engaged in discussing entirely different 
subjects.. (Case of Malone.) 

The following is Disorderly Conduct : 
Examples : 

Brown refused to abide by the decision of a desk officer at 

a police station as to the fare he owed for the use of a 

public hack. Brown, in a public place, offended others 

by using profane and indecent language. 

Brown, in a public street, annoyed and disturbed a number 

of others late at night by loud singing and shouting. 
Brown offended a woman by making indecent proposals to 

her, without her consent. 
Brown annoyed the passengers in a public conveyance by 

wilfully pushing and jostling them. 

Brown stood on a soap box in the street, and by making a 

speech, gathered a disorderly crowd which the police 

had trouble to disperse. 

Brown attempted to board a subway train by rushing by the 

guard without buying and depositing a ticket in the box. 

Brown wilfully threw cow itch on the floor of a dance hall 

to the annoyance of those present. 
Brown, one of a crowd of street corner loafers, made in- 
sulting remarks to passersby. 
Brown and Black played "craps" on the sidewalk to the 
annoyance of passersby. 

Burglary 

Of the more serious crimes with which the police deal, bur- 
glary is one of the most common. It was originally the breaking 
and entering of a dwelling house in the night time for the pur- . 
pose of stealing. But the meaning of the crime has been greatly 
extended by our Penal Law. The original elements of 
Breaking 
Entering 
Intent • 
have been preserved, but the first two mean much more than the 
dictionary meaning. 

Breaking of a building means : 

i. Ordinary breaking and violently detaching any part of it. 



PRACTICAL POLICE WORK 119 

2. Opening any outer door, window, shutter or thing enclos- 
ing it. 

3. Opening any outer door, window, shutter or thing en- 
closing any apartment in it that is separately used and 
occupied, as offices, store-rooms, flats, lofts in the same 
building, occupied by different persons. 

4. Entrance through trick, strategy or collusion with one 
inside, such as pretending to have business with the occu- 
pant, procuring the door to be opened by ringing the bell, 
acting in concert with the watchman or servant. 

5. Entrance through any unusual manner, as from the chim- 
ney, through the coal chute, or by the dumb waiter. 

6. Breaking out after committing a crime when already in- 
side 

Entering a building as a burglar means: 

1. Ordinary entrance. 

2. Inserting part of body or hand., 

3. Inserting an instrument to threaten or detach property. 
The intent of the burglar need no longer be to steal, the intent 

to commit any crime inside is enough. 

The term "building" includes a railway car, vessel, booth, 
ship, inclosed ginsing garden, and any other structure used by 
mankind to shelter property such as a shanty or enclosed stand 
against a building. 

Burglary is a felony. A crime somewhat like burglary, but of 
a lesser grade is that of unlawful entry. When anyone of the 
three essential elements is missing the crime may become either 
attempted burglary or unlawful entry. 

If the door had been open, and the offender entered to com- 
mit a felony, larceny or malicious mischief, unlawful entry would 
be the proper charge. 

If he broke with the intent to commit a crime, but did not 

enter for some reason, the crime would be attempted burglary. 

• The entrance of a tramp to a private dwelling where he went 

to sleep has been held to be neither burglary nor unlawful entry. 

It is vagrancy or disorderly conduct. 

Possession of tools designed or commonly used to commit 
burglary with intent to use them or let them be used is a mis- 
demeanor. If the possessor had been previously convicted of a 
crime, such possession is a felony. 

When a person is found in a building where he does not be- 
long under conditions that are suspicious, and unable to give a 
satisfactory account of himself, he should be arrested, whether 



120 PRACTICAL POLICE WORK 

or not he is'technically chargable with burglary. It will be found 
in most cases that the intent was criminal, and that some crime 
had been committed. 

Examples (Burglary) : 

Brown acted as a '•lookout'' while Black forced a door to 

commit larceny. 
Brown located or was' the "finder" of the place which Black 

broke into. 
Brown induced Black to climb through a fanlight to commit 
larceny. 
Example (Unlawful Entry) : 

Black found the door of White's house open and entered 
to commit larceny. 
Examples (Burglars' Tools) : 

Brown, a former convict, had a jimmy concealed in his 

clothing. 
Brown was entering a doorway at night. On seeing a 
policeman approaching he threw a pick lock away. 

Burglars Specialize 

Burglars specialize in their own particular kind of burglary, 
and thh disposition on their part to stick to their own specialty 
enables the police to detect them all the easier. At headquarters 
there is a Modus Operandi file, where known burglars are in- 
dexed, each according to his specialty. This file should first be 
consulted by the policeman assigned to investigate a burglary. 
The building entered, the manner of entry, the means used, the 
property stolen, the time of the entry, the representation of him- 
self made, the story told, the kind of associates, the vehicle used, 
if any, and other peculiarities are important to note and report. 

Psychology of Burglary 

There is a psychology in burglary as in other things. To cir- 
cumvent the law a burglar must be clever. He cannot be clever 
in all lines of burglary, hence to get away he must make an in- 
tensive study of conditions and of the modus operandi. The 
study of one kind is enough to occupy the mind of most burglars. 
Therefore the bank burglar does not qualify as a flat burglar, 
nor the flat burglar as a hotel burglar, nor a hotel burglar as a 
private house burglar, nor a private house burglar as a loft 
burglar. 



PRACTICAL POLICE WORK 121 

Each" kind of burglary requires a study of the building to be 
entered, the way of entering and the means of getting in. There 
are times when it is easier to do the job than others ; tales that 
go in one place that would fail in others ; representations of 
himself that would pass muster in a tenement house and not in 
a hotel ; vehicles that can be used at some time and place to better 
advantage than at others and peculiarities in the individual which 
might be recognized somewhere's else. 

Methods of Entrance 

Some thieves have a penchant for getting in through coal 
chutes, others by the windows, some like the roof as a way of 
entrance, some a transom, some like to climb walls while others 
get in by the doorway. Some use rope ladders, some climb 
porches, others the fire escape, while not a few like the dumb 
waiter shaft. Some go after clothing, some jewelry and others 
fancy money. 

Some burglars are clever in making up as beggars ; some can 
impersonate the doctor, many pass as canvassers, others as elec- 
tricians, mechanics or gas men, while more recently not a few 
have worn the uniform of an army or navy officer or soldier. 

The use of the foregoing methods and the assumption of the 
different personalities are not easy accomplishments, hence it is 
that the average burglar finds that to be successful in any meas- 
ure he must specialize to beat the law. In order to meet this, 
detectives have to specialize also to beat the burglar. The De- 
partment helps him to do this by keeping the Modus Operand? 
file. 

The Story 

The tale the burglar has told of himself is the first index 
to his identity. He relies for success upon the ability to impress 
and figures that the more like the truth his story is the easier 
will he be credited. That is why the trade or calling given by 
him is likely to be the one he pursued before taking the dishonest 
road. Some seek confederates among other men, some boys, 
while others prefer to have women accomplices. 

Vehicles 

Traces of vehicles should be looked for, such as cvcles, wagons 



122 PRACTICAL POLICE WORK 

or automobiles and when they are identified particularly, great 
care is needed not to confound the traces of them with those 
of legitimate vehicles. Eyes trained for the observation of pe- 
culiarities are necessary for this duty. 

Peculiarities 

Extraordinary and peculiar acts not connected with the crime 
itself have often been committed by burglars. It may be the 
poisoning of a dog, the writing of a note containing wit or sar- 
casm; the changing of their clothes, treating themselves to wine 
or cigars or committing a nuisance. 

Investigation 

At the outset of the investigation of a burglary, the detec- 
tive as in other cases should learn what the patrolman has 
learned and next make certain to establish the fact that a bur- 
glary was actually committed. Many unscrupulous persons have 
"framed" a burglary for the purpose of collecting insurance or 
to hide their own theft from other members of their family. 

In a recent case, the detective, in examining marks of a jimmy 
in a door which had been forced, discovered that they had been 
made from the inside. The complainant in the case, on cross- 
examination, broke down and admitted that he himself had 
"framed" the burglary. 

In another case the door appeared to have been pushed in 
from the outside. The screws and bolt were lying on the floor 
where they were believed to have fallen. The detective, from 
his investigation, concluded that the force used could not possibly 
have caused either the bolt or screws to fall to the particular spot 
on the floor where they had been found. The complainant in 
this case, on cross-examination, admitted that he had " framed" 
the burglary. 

A detective, however, should not commit the error of suspect- 
ing every complainant of making a false allegation where the 
case is obscure. If in doubt, he should proceed in the same man- 
ner as if the allegation were true. 

The next step is to determine the time the burglary was com- 
mitted, where the burglar entered, and how entrance was effected. 
If the evidence of entry is not clear, sifch as a forced door or 
window, the detective should not jump to the conclusion that the 
servants or employees of the building were responsible for the 



PRACTICAL POLICE WORK 123 

theft, for sometimes skillful thieves leave little, if any, trace of 
their presence. 

The rope ladder thief climbs down his ladder, the only ap- 
parent evidence of entrance being an open bathroom or court- 
yard window to which no significance is ordinarily attached. 

The thief who enters by false keys often locks the door be- 
hind him when leaving. The "supper worker" frequently climbs 
along a cornice from a vacant house several doors away, gaining 
entrance through an unfastened window. The expert lock opener 
unfastens the spring bolt of a door with a corset steel, leaving 
little trace of his act behind. 

Consequenly the detective should make the most careful in- 
vestigation before attributing an unexplained burglary to the 
servants or employees, or to persons who had made social or 
business visits prior to its commission. 

If entrance had been effected through a window, even though 
the window were closed after his exit, a skillful detcetive can tell 
the particular window entered by examining the outside of it 
for such marks as the brushing of dust from cornices or sills by 
the passage of the thief, foot-prints or finger-prints thereon. 

If a spring bolt on the door or a window catch on a window 
had been sprung back to gain entrance, the nose of the bolt or 
the spring of the catch or the surrounding woodwork may show 
scratch marks. 

If a jimmy or instrument had been used to force entrance, 
or to open locked drawers, the marks made should be carefully 
noted and measured, a wax cast taken if necessary, or practica- 
ble, or the woodwork on' which the marks are, removed and 
safe-guarded. Measurements, casts, etc., should be held for fu- 
ture comparison. Not alone will marks give an idea of the 
instrument used, but they may lead to the conviction of one found 
in possession of an instrument which fits the particular kind 
of mark made. 

The third step is to find out what the thief did after entering, 
and what clues he left that might lead to his identity.- The de- 
tective should try to follow in the foot-steps of the thief, from 
entrance to exit, searching for every scrap of evidence that is 
apparent. If he has left footprints, these should be measured 
and noted. 

Every article on which finger-prints might be found should be 
closely scrutinized. Any found should be developed at the scene 
or, if practicable, the article on which they appeared, removed 
ior later development. 



i2 4 PRACTICAL POLICE WORK 

Anything that indicated a particular habit, such as cigarette 
butts, should be noted. Tools or instruments left are of partic- 
ular importance. Very often it can be determined by the marks 
or notches on them if they have been used for certain work, or if 
examined with a magnifying glass, particles of material on which 
they had previously been used may be found on them. Facts so 
ascertained may lead to a particular suspect. 

The fourth step is to get a description of the property stolen. 
Such description should be thorough and distinctive, both as to 
kind, quality and value. The detective should bear in mind, 
when obtaining information, that many persons who are victims- 
of theft greatly exaggerate, both as to quantity and value of 
property stolen. 

Sometimes complainants are unable to give a ' distinctive de- 
scription in cases where the property was jewelry, silverware or 
clothing. With expensive clothing or silverware purchased from 
a well-established firm, this difficulty may be overcome by the 
detective visiting the firm, with the complainant. There he would 
be likely to find a replica of such property, and get a description 
and the pattern number. In the case of jewelry which had been 
repaired, the jeweler who made the repairs is usually able to 
furnish a description and tell the particular scratch mark he 
placed upon it. 

The next step is to determine who committed the burglary. 
The victim of the theft, the people who reside in, are employed 
in or do business in the premises, and every other person who 
might by any chance be able to give' information or lead to the 
identification of the suspect, -should be questioned. Xo efforts 
should be spared to obtain every scrap of information obtainable. 

If it appeared that the thief had knowledge of the habits of 
the occupants a knowledge of the interior of the rooms, or a 
knowledge of the place where the property stolen had been kept, 
prior to the commission of the theft, particular inquiry about 
peddlers, canvassers, inspectors or the like who had recently 
visited the premises or persons who" might have received such in- 
formation from employees or servants should be made. 

Of thefts in hotels or apartment houses, bell hops, porters, 
elevator runners, janitors, etc.. who by reason of their employ- 
ment, would be likely to possess special knowledge, should be 
suspected, as should engineers, firemen, watchmen, new employ- 
ees, etc., in loft burglaries. 

If a new employee be suspected of knowing something about 



PRACTICAL POLICE WORK 125 

the crime, the detective should endeavor to find out where such 
employee previously worked, and whether or not at such places 
burglaries had been committed. Some of this information may 
be obtained by visiting the employment agency, if any, which 
supplied him. 

A detective, however, should not, without careful considera- 
tion, arrive at the conclusion that the person committing the theft 
had prior knowledge of the interior of the building or where the 
stolen property was usually kept. 

The modren apartment or flat houses are nearly all built upon 
a general plan. A thief acquainted with the plan has little diffi- 
culty in determining beforehand the interior plan of a like 
apartment. Often a thief knows before entering that the place 
where he is likely to find property in a dwelling, is a bureau 
drawer, under a mattress or carpet, or in bric-a-brac, hidden by 
the cautious housewife. 

In every case of burglary, unless apparent that it was an in- 
side job, careful inquiry should be made as to what strangers 
or suspicious persons had been seen entering or leaving the prem • 
ises or loitering in the vicinity at or about the time the burglary 
was committed. 

Of vehicles, which at the time approached, left from or were 
standing in the vicinity, distinctive description should be obtained, 
care, of course, being taken to eliminate persons and vehicles 
obviously on legitimate business. If it were suspected that a 
particular automobile had been concerned, the track made by the 
tire should be noted, and, if practicable, an imprint taken, as an 
expert can determine by examination of such print the particular 
kind of tire used. This may lead to the identification of the 
automobile and its driver. 

In case of flat burglaries it is always well to question the 
occupants of flats other than the one entered, as to whether, at 
the time the burglary was committed, their doorbells were rung, 
and if the person ringing to their knowledge had entered the hall 
or their apartments. Did he have any particular business with 
them? If they answered that the bells did ring, and that a per- 
son had entered and had no particular business with them, such 
person should be suspected, and his description taken. If only 
the finger-prints of a suspect have been obtained, the detective 
should have them compared with those on file, to see if they 
identified any particular thief. 

If the Modus Operandi be significant, the detective should 
consult the Modus Operandi file in the record room. On finding 



126 PRACTICAL POLICE WORK 

a parallel method recorded, he should show the picture of the thief 
who used this method to persons who may have seen him at the 
scene of the crime. If the property be found in a pawnshop or 
elsewhere, he should get the persons, other than the thief, in 
whose possession it was found, to give a description of the per- 
son from whom it had been obtained, or to state who he was, and 
where he would be likley to be found. If the detective had rea- 
sonable grounds to believe that any particular person did the 
act, he should arrest him. 

A description of the property should be taken, and a thorough 
search made of pawnshops, second-hand dealers, junk-shops or 
any place where the goods might be hidden. The case should be 
persistently followed to its conclusion. 

As circumstances differ, a detective should take whatever 
course the particular circumstances indicate might lead to dis- 
covery and detection. 

EXTORTION AND BLACKMAIL 

Extortion and blackmail are twin crimes, in popular parlance 
and conception often confounded. Both are serious and are 
felonies. Both belong in the larceny class. Blackmail is a sort 
of attempted extortion by means of writing. 

The essential difference between larceny and blackmail is that 
in larceny the property of the other is taken without his consent 
while in extortion it is taken with his consent. It includes cor- 
poration property. The consent, however, must have been in- 
duced by a wrongful use of force or fear or under cover of 
official right. 

A person may consent to a wrong for the purpose of avoiding 
a greater wrong and is entitled to protection against the necessity 
of making such a choice. 

The fear that owners of property may be put in, in order 
to make them give up is that induced by a threat : 

i. To do an unlawful injury to the person or property of 
the individual threatened,* to any relative of his, to any 
member of his family or to a corporation of which he be 
an officer, stockholder, employee or agent; or, 

2. To accuse him, any relative of his or any member of his 
family, of any crime; or, 

3. To expose, or impute to him, or any of them, deformity 
or disgrace; or, 

4. To expose any secret affecting him or any of them; or, 



PRACTICAL POLICE WORK 127 

5. To kidnap him or any relative or member of his family ; or, 

6. To injure his person or property, that of any relative 
of his or member of his family by the use of weapons 
or explosives. 

The word PROPERTY, as employed in extortion, means 
every kind of valuable right or interest. 

Examples : 

Black, president of a labor union, obtained money from 

White, a contractor, by threatening to call a strike on a 

building which White was erecting. 
Black obtained money from Brown by threatening to arrest 

him for an immoral act. 
Black obtained money from White by threatening to poison 

his horses. 
Black obtained money from White by threatening to kidnap 

his child. 
Black caused White to cancel a mortgage he held on Black's 

home by threatening to kill him. 

Under cover of official right includes not only a public officer, 
but a person pretending to be such who 

1. Arrests another, or detains him against his will. 

2. Seizes or levies on another's property. 

3. Dispossesses another off lands or tenements. 

4. Does any act that injures another in his person, property 
or rights. He commits oppression and is guilty of a misde- 
meanor. 

Examples : 

Brown, a policeman, maliciously arrested White for an act 
not prohibited by law. 

Brown, a sheriff, seized on White's property without au- 
thority of law. 

A public officer is guilty of extortion, a misdemeanor, who: 

1. Asks a fee for his official services. 

2. Receives a fee in excess of that allowed by law. 

3. Receives other compensation. 

4. Receives compensation for his official services where none 
is allowed by law. 

As if Brown, a notary public, asked for and received $5 
from White for swearing him to an affidavit. 



128 PRACTICAL POLICE WORK 

Blackmail 

Bleackmail is really, though not strictly, or technically, at- 
tempted extortion in writing. The person guilty of sending a 
letter demanding property can be punished for blackmail for 
the sending of the letter, as the crime is complete as soon as the 
letter is parted with. 

Its elements are : 

i. A threatening letter and knowledge of its contents. 

2. Intent to extort. 

3. Parting with the letter to be sent. 

A person is guilty of blackmail who, knowing the contents, 
and with intent by means thereof, to extort or gain money or 
property, or to do, abet, or procure any illegal or wrongful act, 
sends, delivers, or in any manner causes to be forwarded or re- 
ceived, or makes and parts with for the purpose that there may 
be sent or delivered, any letter or writing, threatening: 

1. To accuse any person of a crime; or, 

2. To do any injury to any person or to any property ; or, 

3. To publish or connive at publishing any libel; or, 

4. To expose or impute to any person any deformity or 
disgrace, punishable by imprisonment for not more than 
fifteen years. 

Blackmail is somewhat similar to extortion (a felony), the 
threats constituting both crimes being to a great extent similar. 
Extortion can be committed either by verbal or written threat, 
but the crime is consummated only when the perpetrator benefits 
by such threats. In blackmail, the perpetrator is guilty of the 
crime the moment he sends or delivers the written threat. 
Example : 

If Brown, intending to extort money from Jones, shows 
Jones a paper on which threats constituting extortion and 
blackmail were written, or printed, but Jones refuses to 
give such money, attempted extortion would be commit- 
ted, but if it were sent the crime would be blackmail. 

Blackmail and Extortion 

The crimes of Blackmail and Extortion are committed by 
criminals of all nationalities. The methods used in the commis- 
sion vary according to the particular kind of threat by which the 
victim is induced to part with his property. 



PRACTICAL POLICE WORK 129 

How Blackmailers Work 

Most of the criminals, in this city, who extort money by 
threatening to do unlawful injury to the person or property of 
others are emigrants from Southern Europe, many of whom 
have criminal records in the land of their birth. These persons 
usually reside in the sections of the city colonized by persons of 
the same nationality, who, in most cases, are the victims. 

Such criminals generally operate in the following manner: 

Three or four of them combine with one another and select 
a prosperous fellow-countryman as the prospective victim. One 
of them, who has gained the "victim's" confidence, by posing as 
his friend, seeks every opportunity to engage him in friendly con- 
verse on the subject of blackhanders and pictures what desper- 
ate criminals they are. 

When it is felt that the man's mental state is such that he 
can be frightened easily, a letter signed with a black hand is sent 
him commanding him, say to leave his residence and proceed at a 
certain time and date, by a specified route, to a designated place, 
and either give a certain sum of money to one who will identify 
himself by a prearranged password, or place it under a stone, 
threatening him with dire vengeance upon failure to comply, or 
in case information is given to the police. 

After the victim has read the letter, the false friend visits him 
to find out its effect, adroitly introducing the subject of bladk- 
handers. If the victim confides to him the contents of the letter, 
he is advised not to inform the police, but to pay the money, and 
avoid the danger that confronts him. 

If the victim signifies his intention of meeting the demand, 
the false friend will inform the blackmailers. 

From the time the victim receives the letter until he is to 
leave home to deliver the money, he is kept under observation, 
to see if he visits or is visited by the police. From the time he 
leaves home to deliver the money until he reaches the place desig- 
nated for delivery, he is trailed by one of the blackmailers. If 
his actions are not suspicious, the money is taken and the trans- 
action concluded. 

If, however, the victim excites suspicion by his actions, or 
there be suspicion that the police have been informed, none of 
the criminals will be at the place designated. The victim returns 
home and in a few days receives a second letter stating that the 
money was not accepted because the police were hiding, at the 
place and that he is suspected of having informed them. He is 



130 PRACTICAL POLICE WORK 

again commanded to take the money to anotner designated place,- 
in a different locality, and threatened should he fail, with ven- 
geance, swift sure and terrible. 

If the recipient of a blackmailing letter fails to comply with 
the demand made in it, or informs the police, a bomb is made, usu- 
ally by placing black powder and slugs in the center of a ball 
of tightly rolled paper, through which a fuse is inserted; or dy- 
namite may be used. This bomb is taken by one of the conspira- 
tors to the residence or place of business of the victim, at an 
opportune moment the fuse is lighted, and the bomb placed in 
the hallway of the victim's residence or the doorway of his store. 
The fuse is timed so that the blackmailer has sevaral minutes to 
leave the scene before the explosion occurs. The explosion,' par- 
ticularly if black powder be used, rarely does much damage. 

The victim is next sent another letter, threatening future 
injury of a more serious nature unless he complies with their 
demands. If he proves stubborn, another bomb may be exploded, 
but generally the attempt to extort is abandoned. 

Sometimes blackmailing letters, demanding money and threat- 
ening injury, are sent to victims who are engaged in business, 
for. the purpose of frightening them into moving such business 
from a particular locality. 
For instance: 

"Marino opens a grocery store adjacent to a grocery store 
conducted by Carro. Fearful of losing his trade, Carro 
hires one of a band of reputed bad men of the locality, 
to put his rival out of business. The persons hired for 
this purpose write the usual blackmailing letter to 
Marino and demand an impossible sum of money from 
him. The first letter is followed by another, accusing 
him of informing the police and the letters are followed 
by bombs, until Marino becomes so frightened that he 
closes his store and leaves the locality." 

Other Methods of Operation 

The most frequent offenders of this class are clever persons, 
who prey upon men or women of lax morals. These criminals 
have various methods of operation, but the one most frequently 
used is as follows : 

A young woman enters into a flirtation with a likely victim 
in a hotel, lobby, or restaurant. The victim is encouraged into 
making improper advances, which are received with assumed 



PRACTICAL POLICE WORK 131 

reluctance, but which terminate, usually in intimate intercourse. 
After one or two such acts the woman suggests a visit to Asbury 
Park, Boston, or some place out of the State. If the victim com- 
ply, the woman informs her male accomplices, who trail them to 
the hotel. After the man has registered the woman as his wife 
and enters a bedroom with her, he is visited by her male asso- 
ciates who represents themselves as United States officials and 
threaten them with arrest under the Compulsory Prostitution 
act. The victim usually pays in order to avoid arrest. 

Sometimes the extortionists try to keep within the law by 
operating in the following manner : 

Just as the victim registers in a hotel in another State, one of 
them pushes him, so that he steps on, or falls against another 
extortionist, who pretends to be injured, and indignant, and looks 
at the hotel register to ascertain the victim's name. 

When the man returns home, one of the extortionists, some- 
times representing himself as an attorney, calls and states that 
his client, supposed to be the person injured at the hotel, is going 
to bring suit for damages and use the victim's wife, who was 
with him in the hotel, as a witness. The man, afraid of disgrace, 
notoriety and possible conviction, pays to have the suit dropped. 

Foolish married women are often the victims of extortionists. 
The following is one of the methods employed : 

A fellow, gentlemanly in appearance, and a good dancer, 
forms an acquaintance with an unescorted married woman, who 
has reached the foolish age, and flatters her vanity by telling 
her how well she looks and dances. This acquaintance is made 
in a Tango Parlor (may be) and strengthened by visits to other 
parlors, culminating in a visit to a seashore hotel, where a female, 
claiming to be the wife of the man, enters and, finding them, 
threatens divorce. The victim is induced by the man to pay to 
avoid disgrace. 

Another method is known to the police as the "badger game." 
It is worked by a man and a woman : 

The woman, young and attractive, flirts with a likely victim 
in a hotel parlor, cabaret, prominent thoroughfare, etc. She in- 
forms him that her husband is out of town and that she is out for 
a good time. He is invited to her home. The acquaintance pro- 
ceeds to such intimate relations that he removes his outer-cloth- 
ing and otherwise compromises himself. At the psychological 
moment the confederate knocks, or rings the bell, and the woman 
pretends to be greatly frightened, informing the victim that her 



i 3 2 PRACTICAL POLICE WORK 

husband has returned, may be inducing him to hide in a clothes 
closet. 

The supposed husband is permitted to enter, pretends to be 
suspicious, searches the premises, rinding the victim and displays 
great anger, threatening him with arrest. 

The supposed wife intercedes, claiming that he is innocent 
of any wrongdoing and stating his name and address, if she 
has learned it. A money settlement is suggested and the victim 
leaves the premises a wiser but poorer man. 

The writing of a letter, anonymous or otherwise, to another 
person for the purpose of annoying him is a misdemeanor. So 
is the sending of a fake subpoena or any paper simulating a legal 
process for the purpose of making him believe he has to appear 
in court. Even though there is a threat in the letter to do 
injury and no attempt to extort money, a misdemeanor only is 
committed. 

ROBBERY 

To constitute Robbery there must be six elements present : 

1. The property taken must be personal property or money. 
Example : 

If Black feloniously and forcibly took possession of White's 
real estate in his presence, he could not be charged with 
robbery. 

2. The taking must be unlawful, the taker not the actua. 
owner or the lawful custodian. 

Example : 
If Black stole White's watch and sold it to Brown, White 
would not be guilty of robbery if he forcibly took his 
watch from Brown. 

3. The property must be taken from the person or in the 
presence of another. 

Example : 

If Black, while White was absent from his home, assaulted 
him and made him unconscious, then went to White's 
home and stole property, he could not be charged with 
robbery, as the property was not taken from the person, 
or in the presence of White : whereas, if he entered 
White's home, compelled White to absent himself by 
threatening to shoot him, and then stole White's prop- 
erty, he could be so charged, because the property was 
in White's presence when the robbery was begun. 



PRACTICAL POLICE WORK 133: 

4. It must be taken against his will. 
Example : 

Black's employer gave him a sum of money to deposit in 
the bank; he conspired with his friend Brown to steal it 
and for the purpose of deceiving his employer, permitted 
Brown to manhandle him and take the money from his 
possession by force. Brown could not be charged with 
robbery, because the property was not taken against 
Black's will. 

5. Force or violence must be used to obtain it from the 
person or presence of another or he must have been put 
in fear of injury to himself or his property, or to a rela- 
tive, or his family, or any one in his company at the time 

of the robbery. 
Example : 

If Black stole White's automobile while it was in Brown's 
charge, and accomplished the theft by threatening to in- 
jure White who was not present, he could not be charged 
with robbery. 

6. The force used, or the putting in fear of injury must be 
for the purpose of obtaining or retaining possession of 
the property, or to overcome resistance to the taking. If 
the force is employed merely as a means of escape, it 
does not constitute robbery. 

Example : 

If Black secretly picked White's pocket and then assaulted 

Green, who tried to prevent his escape, he could not be 

charged with robbery. 
t 
1 

Three Elements Constitute Robbery in the First Degree 

An unlawful taking or compulsion, if accomplished by force 
or fear, is robbery in the first degree, when committed by a person 
under any of the following conditions : 

1. Being armed with a dangerous weapon ; or, 

2. Being aided by an accomplice actually present ; or, 

3. When the offender inflicts grievous bodily harm or injury 
upon the person from whose possession, or in whose 
presence the property is taken, or upon the wife, hus- 
band, servant, child, or inmate of the family of such per- 
son, or any one in his company at the time, in order to 
accomplish the robbery. 



134 PRACTICAL POLICE WORK 

Robbery in Second Degree Is 

Unlawful taking, when accomplished by force or fear, but 
not under circumstances amounting to robbery in the first degree. 
i. By the use of violence; or, 

2. By putting the person robbed in fear of immediate injury 
to his person or that of some one in his company. 
I j 

Third Degree Robbery 

A person who robs another under circumstances not amount- 
ing to robbery in the first or second degree, is guilty of robbery 
in the third degree. 

Robbery differs from Extortion, a felony, in the following 
ways : 

Robbery 

i. The property taken must be personal property. 

2. The taking must be against the will of the victim and 
against his desire. 

3. The threat of injury is such that the victim has no alter- 
native other than the giving of the property demanded to 
avoid injury. 

(a) Obtaining property by threatening to expose victim to 
disgrace and humiliation would not constitute robbery. 

(b) In robbery it must be proven that the property was taken 
in the presence or from the person of another. 

Extortion 

1. The property obtained may be any kind of property. 

2. The taking is with the consent of the victim, although 
against his desire. 

3. The threat of injury made to obtain the property is of 
such a nature that the victim is given time to consider. 

(a) Obtaining property by such threat would constitute ex- 
tortion. 

(b) In extortion it is not necessary to prove that the property 
taken was in the presence or from the person of an- 
other. 



CHAPTER IX 

BRIBERY, ETC. 

A person to be bribed must be acting in a representative ca- 
pacity and not for himself. The bribe must be a consideration 
to influence his action improperly. 

There are five classes of persons who may be bribed : 
i. Persons authorized by law to hear and determine a 
matter in dispute. They are judges, jurors, referees, 
appraisers, etc. 

2. Public officers who ask for, receive or agree to receive 
valuable consideration to influence their official action. 

3. Witnesses in an authorized proceeding who receive or 
agree to receive a consideration to give false testimony 
or stay away from the trial. 

All the foregoing are felonies. In addition there are : 
i. Labor representatives who can be bribed by a considera- 
tion to induce them to call off or call a strike. 
2. Servants who take gratuities or commissions from trades 
people as a consideration for the trade of their em- 
ployer which they control. 
In the first three the taker and giver of the bribe are equally 
guilty. In the case of the labor representative the person who- 
gives the bribe is guilty of a misdemeanor, but. not the labor 
man who takes it. 

Methods of Detecting Bribery 

The police are called into action in bribery cases after a de- 
mand has usually been made and when one side is willing to go 
through with the formalities for the purpose of "getting" the 
other. 

Marked money, a suitable place for negotiations, a policeman 
concealed so as to hear and if possible see, a seizure of the per- 
son and of the money passed constitute the ordinary methods of 
procedure. 

135 



136 PRACTICAL POLICE WORK 

Sometimes dictaphones are introduced but when the case is 
difficult a detective or'possibly two should take part after higher 
officials have been consulted with. 
Examples : 

Black, a subpoena server, employed in the District Attor- 
ney's office, received money from Brown because he 
agreed to postpone the service of a subpoena. 
Black, a policeman, received money from Brown because he 

agreed not to enforce the gambling law. 
Black, a juror, received money from Brown because he 

agreed to vote to acquit him. 
Black, an Alderman, received money from Brown because 

he agreed to vote for a certain concession. 
Black, a witness, received money from Brown, because he 

agreed to absent himself from the trial. 
Black offered to give a policeman money if he would give 
false testimony in court. 

LARCENY 

Every fraudulent taking or obtaining of the money or prop- 
erty of another is larcenous. All of the crimes of this nature 
are not included under the head of larceny in the Penal Law, as 
from time to time, methods of cheating and defrauding sprung 
up which were not covered in the law, and for which conviction 
could not be had on account of the rigid interpretation of that 
provision of the Penal Law which says that nothing is a crime 
unless specifically made so by the law. 

A person is guilty of larceny who with criminal intent: 

1. Takes another's property; 

2. Deprives another of the use or benefit of his property; 

3. Obtains another's property by trick, artifice, fraud, cheat, 
false token or writing, misrepresentation or false pre- 
tense. 

4. Being intrusted with another's property as bailee or cus- 
todian, appropriates it to his own use, or the use of 
another. 

False pretense means a pretense about some existing fact, and 
not a pretense of something to be done. A person cannot be con- 
victed of obtaining property by false pretense, unless it is proved 
that the false pretenses were made with the intent to cheat and 
defraud and that the complainant was induced to part with his 
property on the strength of such false pretenses. 



PRACTICAL POLICE WORK 137 

Example : 

If Black, intending to defraud White, obtained money from 
him by falsely telling him that Brown had sent him for it, 
criminal intent would be apparent. But if, with like in- 
tent he borrowed money from White, on the pretense that 
he was going to invest it in business, and failed to do so, 
or to return the money, larceny could not be charged. 
The giving of an N. G. check, and on its strength obtaining 
something valuable is larceny, when the giver knows that the 
check was N. G. The difficulty is to prove the intent. It is 
prima facie evidence of criminal intent when the giver: 

1. Draws a check on a bank in which he has no account or 
credit whatsoever ; or, 

2. When his check has been dishonored by the bank be- 
cause of insufficient funds and he does not pay the drawee 

thereof the amount due thereon together with costs within 
ten days after receiving notice from the drawee that his 
check was N. G. 
If a check were given for the payment of a debt overdue, there 
is no crime. . ^ 

Example: i? 

Black obtained goods on credit from White and gave hirrr 
an N. G. check for the^amount of the debt. 
Larceny by Bailee or Custodian. 
Example : 

Black agreed to hire Wnite and received a deposit of money 

from him as security for the faithful performance of his 

duties, agreeing to return it on the termination of the 

employment, and failed to employ White, or return the 

money. 

White sent Black to the bank with a $50 bill to get change, 

and he lost the money gambling. 
Black, an attorney, acting on a contingent fee, misrepre- 
sented to his client the amount he received in settlement 
• of the claim, and retained a greater sum than he was 

entitled to under his contract. 
Black obtained possession of jewelry from its owner, upon 
a statement that he had a customer to whom he could 
sell it, and upon an agreement either to return the jew- 
elry or the price of it and he did neither. 
Other methods of committing larceny are by bringing stolen 
property into this State; finding lost property, and not looking: 
for the owner, having the intent to keep it ; selling or pawning 



138 PRACTICAL POLICE WORK 

property entrusted to a person for one's own use, or for the 
purpose of being manufactured, or with criminal intent, chang- 
ing the original mark of identification of any such property; 
operating a public telephone, slot machine or automatic vending 
machine by artifice; fake money. 

There is the case of various kinds of collectors who appro- 
priate large sums from their employees in small amounts. Unless 
some one of the sums exceed $50.00 only petit larceny is 
chargeable. 
Example : 
If Black, a collector, were required to turn over to his firm 
each evening the amount of his collections for that day, 
and stole $50.00 from each day's collections, he could be 
charged only with petit larceny; whereas, if required to 
turn in the amount of his collection at the end of each 
week, and stole $50.00 each day, he could be charged 
with grand larceny. 
A false written statement to obtain credit, or a false oral 
statement that a written statement on which credit was obtained 
is now true, when it is not, is a misdemeanor. 
Example : 

Brown made a false written statement of his financial 
condition, and White believing it to be true, gave him 
goods on credit. 
Brown made a true written statement relative to his finan- 
cial condition on a Monday and on it obtained credit from 
White. On the following Saturday he made a false oral 
statement to White that his financial condition was as 
good as it was stated to be on the previous Monday, and 
obtained credit thereby. 
Larceny is both a felony and misdemeanor. The grade of the 
offence depends upon the amount, the time and the manner and 
place of taking. 

A person is guilty of grand larceny who: 

1. Steals any property from the person of another. 

12. Steals in any other manner property over $50.00 in value. 

3. Steals public documents or records. 

4. Steals in the night time property of more than $25.00 in 
value from a dwelling house, vessel or railway car. 

Other forms of larceny are Petit Larceny. 
The value of an article may either appear on its face, or if it 
does not then the market value of what is taken, not the value 



PRACTICAL POLICE WORK 139 

which the owner had placed upon it, even though the thing was 
worth more to him than the market value. 

1. If an evidence of debt, the amount to be collected : 
For instance : 

"Jones gave his note to Brown for $60.00 ; a person stealing 
such note from Brown would be guilty of Grand Larceny. 

2. Any bond, certificate or other security having a market 

value, that market value is the value thereof. 

3. Any other kind of security or deed, the sum that might 
be recovered for the want thereof or the value of the 
property at stake. 

For instance: 

"Jones stole a promissory note valued at $7,000, the larceny 
was of that amount." 

4. If the thing stolen be a passage, ticket for a boat, train, 
or the like, the amount that such ticket is usually sold for. 

5. In other erases the market value of the thing stolen. 
For instance: 

"Jones stole an automobile for which Brown paid $5.00, 
but which could be sold in the open market for $500.00 
The amount of the larceny is $500.00." 
"Jones stole a ring from Brown which Brown valued at 
$500.00, its market value being only $5.00, the amount 
of the larceny is only $5.00." 
In such case, however, the market value acted on by the po- 
lice is the value placed on the article by the owner, that is, provid- 
ing such value is within reason. 

It is not larceny to take property openly to which a person 

thinks he is entitled when he is not. As a general rule a man 

cannot be charged with larceny for the taking of his own property. 

Larceny in the first degree is the taking or appropriating of : 

1. Property of any value, by taking it from the person of 
another in the night time; or, 

2. Property of the value of more than twenty-five dollars,, 
by taking it in the night time from any dwelling-house,, 
vessel, or railway car; or, 

3. Property of the value of more than five hundred dollars, 
in any manner whatever. 

Grand Larceny in Second Degree 

A person is guilty of grand larceny in the second degree who, 
under circumstances not amounting to grand larceny in the first 



140 PRACTICAL POLICE WORK 

degree, steals or unlawfully obtains or appropriates: 

1. Property of the value of more than fifty dollars, but not 
exceeding five hundred dollars, in any manner whatever; 
or, 

2. Property of any value, by taking it from the person of 
another; or, 

.3. A record of a court or officer, or a writing, instrument or 
record kept filed or deposited according to law, with, or 
in keeping of any public office or officer. 

Seizing Military Stores Belonging to the State 

To steal stores or ammunition from an arsenal, armory, fort 
or encampment or to enter such places with that intent, is a 
felony punishable with ten years' imprisonment. 

Buying or Receiving Stolen Property 

A receiver of stolen property is a person who knowing such 
property to be stolen, buys or receives it, or who corruptly for 
any money, property, reward or promise, or agreement, conceals, 
-withholds, or aids in concealing or withholding such property. 

To secure a conviction on such a charge, it is necessary to 
prove 

1. That the property was stolen. 

2. That the accused received it knowingly. 

3. That he knew it had been stolen. 

In the case of a junk dealer there is substituted for the third 
provision the condition that he did not make diligent inquiry. 

A junk dealer, second hand dealer, or his agent, employee, or 
representative, is guilty of criminally receiving stolen goods, who 
buys or receives, without making diligent inquiry that the persons 
selling have a lawful right to do so, any 



wire 






cable 


used by or belong- 


or any metal in 


copper 


ing to a railroad. 


the form of ingots. 


lead 


telephone, gas or 


ingot bars, wire 


solder 


electric light com- 


bars, cakes, slabs, 


iron or 


pany. 


billets or pigs. 


"brass 







Tf such articles were found in the possession of the junk or 



PRACTICAL POLICE WORK 141 

second hand dealer, and he could not lawfully account for them 
it would be presumptive evidence that he knowingly received 
stolen property. 

If the stolen property criminally received be valued at more 
than $50.00, the person responsible is usually guilty of a felony, 
otherwise a misdemeanor. 

A junk dealer, on buying any pigs of metal, gates or parts 
thereof, brass, copper, or wire car journals, is required to 
make out a full written statement of the purchase, have it signed 
by the seller and forward it to the Police Commissioner. 

Guilty knowledge may be presumed from the following cir- 
cumstances : 

Examples : 

Black is found carrying a bag containing silverware which 
had been stolen a short time before, and unable to ac- 
count for its possession. 

Black has stolen jewelry in his possession which he had 
purchased from young children. 

Black has a stolen automobile in his possession — its color 
and motor number having been changed after he bought it. 

Black has property in his possession which had been stolen 
from various persons, and he cannot lawfully account 
for it. 

Black, a junkman, has stolen property in his possession, 
and had made no record of the purchase. 

FORGERY 

Forgery implies : 

1. The imitation of another's act. 

2. Defrauding the other in consequence of the imitation. 
Generally speaking there are three ways of committing 

forgery. 

1. Bv fraudulently affixing another's name to an instrument. 

2. By changing an instrument already made. 

3. By making a fraudulent instrument over a genuine sig- 
nature. 

A person is guilty of forgery who to cheat and defraud, at- 
tempts to imitate the personal acts of another by the false making, 
or altering, of any writing which if genuine might render such 
other person liable to loss or damage of any kind. 

The instrument forged may be a paper, a stamp, seal, coin or 



142 PRACTICAL POLICE WORK 

anything the imitation of which would result in fraudulent gain. 
Possession of it with intent is criminal. 

The crime is rarely ever obvious to a policeman, and his duty 
towards it generally does not go beyond arresting after a warrant. 
Examples : 
Brown — 

i. Signed his own name to a check and got it cashed by 
falsely stating that it was signed by another person, also 
named Brown. 

2. Stole money from his employer and covered up his 
thefts by making false entries in his employer's account 
books. 

3. Had a check in his possession drawn by White, and 
with intent to defraud, raised the amount of the check. 

4. Counterfeited -United States money. 

5. Had molds for the counterfeiting of money in his pos- 
session, unlawfully. 

6. Knowingly passed counterfeit money (the passer adopts- 
the making as his own). 

7. Intending to defraud, signed White's name to an order 
for property without White's consent. 

Frauds and Cheats 

Among the frauds perpetrated from time to time and to pre- 
vent which it was found necessary to make special laws were 
the following: 

Conducting fake charitable organizations. 

Collecting for fake charitable purposes. 

Selling tickets for fake balls and entertainments. 

Conducting mock auctions. 

Beating hotels out of the cost of food, lodging and accommo- 
dation. 

Depressing or booming stocks through fake messages of 
President or Governor. 

Producing a pretended heir to a man who has just died. 

Substituting a false child for the true one with intent to de- 
ceive. 

Getting employment by false pretences. 

Getting money by false pretences. 

Impersonating public officials or employees for purposes of 
gain. 

Using Army and Navy uniform for purposes of gain. 



PRACTICAL POLICE WORK 143 

Falsely representing one's self as a policeman. 

Falsely representing one's self to certain well known societies. 

It is a felony to publish a false message of the President or 
the Governor ; to procure a false heir, or substitute one child for 
another. 

In the case of getting money through fake charity methods, 
it is a felony if the money is obtained upon the strength of a false 
token or writing purporting to be signed by an officer of a gen- 
uine organization, but only a misdemeanor if the money is ob- 
tained upon the strength of oral representation. In the other 
cases the act itself is a misdemeanor. It may develop into a felony 
depending upon the amount or intent of the fraud. Care should 
he taken to distinguish between the act done for the purpose 
of committing the fraud which is one crime while the results of 
that act may develop into a different and more serious crime 
-of grand larceny. 

Methods of Perpetrating Frauds 

Persons misrepresenting themselves as agents of known 
charitable organizations dress as clergymen or sisters of charity 
and by such false pretences beg from door to door, or enter 
offices where they say nothing, but rely upon their garb to carry 
them through. Since that is a felony the policeman can make an 
arrest whether he saw any misrepresentation made or not. The 
imposters are generally ex-convicts or other persons whose de- 
tection is not difficult once suspicion is aroused. 

Sisters of Charity wear broad-toed shoes without toe cap, 
low heels and carry a rosary and cross on the left side sus- 
pended from the waist. They either walk in pairs or are ac- 
companied by another woman or little girl. They do not enter 
saloons or resorts. 

How Police Should Act 

When a policeman notices a person dressed in a sister's garb 
whom he suspects, he should look for these signs and if one or 
more of them is absent follow the woman up, hear her solicit 
alms, question her and if her answers are not satisfactory, arrest 
her, after communicating with the order she claims to represent 
if that be possible. 

There are Protestant sisters of charity whose detection is not 
so easy owing to a non-stan 'ard garb and a non-fixed method of 



144 PRACTICAL POLICE WORK 

procedure. They can, however, be detected by close question- 
ing and an investigation of the order to which they allege to be- 
long by calling up the place on the telephone while they are made 
to wait the result. 

When persons dressed as clergymen tell a plausible story or 
begin to bluster the policeman should be the more suspicious and 
follow up his investigations. Genuine clergymen are only too 
willing as a rule to submit their story and themselves to any 
reasonable test. A fraud can be arrested on the felony charge. 

Fake Charity Organizations 

The persons who organize fake charitable organizations, solicit 
subscriptions on commission, appropriate most of the proceeds 
to cover expenses and turn in a small residue are usually too 
clever in their mode of operations to justify a policeman in taking 
summary action. In such cases the proper procedure is to learn 
all that it is possible to learn of what they are doing and make a 
full report in order that it may be sent to the District Attorney for 
his action. 

The fake ball tickets for pretended charity is an old and 
cheap swindle practiced by played-out confidence men and petty 
grafters. All that is needed is a few dollars to have tickets 
printed, a small hall rented, a committee to work the gullible 
a "sick brother" and a sob story. Their success depends upon 
how well they work this combination. Sometimes they keep, 
within the law but inasmuch as they are always ready to overstep 
it if the necessity occurs, the policeman who learns of such 
operations should investigate and if there be any violations of the 
law not hesitate to make arrest. If the organization they as- 
sume to represent has no existence, or if there be an organiza- 
tion which has not given them authority and there be no sick 
brother the offence is a misdemeanor. 

Mock Auctions 

Mock auctions mean the presence of bidders who are not bona 
fide buyers. They rest upon the knowledge that many persons 
do as they see others do, that men are stimulated by competition 
and the fever of bidding into giving more for an article than 
they would otherwise be inclined to. The law prohibiting such 
auctions holds it to be fraudulent to stimulate such bidding by 
persons who have no intention to buy. Hence the holding of a. 



PRACTICAL POLICE WORK 145 

mock auction is a misdemeanor. . The law applies to the sale of 
personal property except ships but does not apply to real estate 
sales. It is a felony for a licensed auctioneer to obtain money 
or property from another, or to obtain the signature of another, 
the false making of which would be forgery through the sale 
of property by means of a false auction. Other offenses are 
misdemeanors. 

Sec. 1991. Auction sales are to be held during daytime, ex- 
cept in certain cases. 

All sales of goods by public auction in the City of New York, 
by an auctioneer, are to be made in the daytime, between sun- 
rise and sunset, excepting with the Mayor's permit. 

1. Books and prints. 

2. Goods sold in the original package, as imported, accord- 
ing to a printed catalogue, of which samples have 
been opened and exposed to public inspection at least 
one day previous to the sale. 

3. Horses and live stock. 

4. Fruit and other farm products. 

5. Paintings, statuary, bronzes and other works of art and 
specimens of natural history, which shall have been on 
public exhibition in the City of New York for at least 
one day immediately preceding the time of sale. 

Hotel Bills 

To run up a bill at a hotel and leave without paying it was 
an old way of obtaining free board and lodging. The person 
who cheats a hotel, boarding house or lodging house in that way 
now, or who surreptitiously removes his baggage without paying 
his bill commits a misdemeanor, and the hotel keeper who com- 
plains of such conduct should be advised to arrest the parties on 
his own responsibility. 

False Messages 

Wall Street operators have frequently been cheated by the 
circulation of false messages from the President which had either 
a buoyant or a depressing effect on stocks. The putting in cir- 
culation of such messages is a felony. Wall Street, however, has 
often some difficulty in running down such messages, so that the 
commission of the crime is seldom obvious enough for a police- 
man to take action of his own initiative. 



146 PRACTICAL POLICE WORK 

Other Methods 

Similar difficulties are associated with the running down of 
crimes involving pretended heirs, and substitution of children. 
The policeman's offices usually come into operation after a war- 
rant has been issued. 

The impersonation of police officers is done usually for the 
purpose of extortion. Firemen and inspectors are impersonated 
for the purpose of the more easily getting into houses to commit 
thefts. Badges are used for the same purposes. Officers of 
societies and orders are impersonated and the societies are used 
to impose upon the fraternal feelings of other members. These 
offences usually come to light through complaints and seldom 
call for original action by the police. 

Fraud perpetrated by means of official papers, seals, etc., are 
felonies. 

False Impersonation 

A person who falsely impersonates another, and, in such as- 
sumed character, 

1. Marries or pretends to marry, or to sustain the marriage 
relation towards another, with or without the connivance 
of the latter; or, 

2. Becomes bail or surety for a party in an action or special 
proceeding, civil or criminal, before a court or officer 
authorized to take bail ; or, 

3. Confesses a judgment; or, 

4. Subscribes, verifies, publishes, acknowledges, or proves a 
written instrument, which by law may be recorded, with 
intent that it may be delivered or used as true ; or, 

5. Does any other act, in the course of any action or pro- 
ceeding whereby if it were done by the person falsely 
impersonated, such person might in any event become 
liable to an action or special proceeding, civil or criminal, 
or to pay a sum of money, or to incur a charge, forfeiture, 
or penalty, or whereby any benefit might accrue to the 
offender, or to another person, 

Is punishable by imprisonment in a State prison for not more 
than ten years. 

In order to prevent a janitor, superintendent, or other person 
from monopolizing the trade of a tenement or apartment house 



PRACTICAL POLICE WORK 147 

through control of the means of entrance or the like a law was 
passed making it a misdemeanor for such persons or the owner 
to accept money for giving another the privilege of selling to 
the tenants, ice, coal, food, etc. This is another law which, if 
violated will come to the attention of a policeman through com- 
plaint. 

Opening Letters 

It is a misdemeanor to open another's sealed letter or to open 
or read a telegram or private papers or to publish the contents, 
knowing it to have been taken without authority, or to publish a 
dead person's private papers without authority, or to get and pub- 
lish the contents of a message by telephone or telegraph obtained 
through connivance with an employee of the company. 

Civil Rights 

To refuse to receive and entertain a guest or to refuse to 
carry a passenger is a misdemeanor when committed by an inn 
keeper or a common carrier of passengers, or their agents when 
the refusal is without just cause or excuse. 

Inn keepers, theatre and amusement owners and teachers and 
officers of common schools, public institutions of learning and 
cemetery associations cannot exclude a citizen on account of race, 
color, creed or previous condition of servitude. Neither can they 
be excluded from public employment except by committing a 
misdemeanor. 

It is the same crime to deny, aid or incite another to deny 
another public employment or the full enjoyment of any of the 
accommodations, advantages, facilities and privileges of any 
hotel, inn, tavern, restaurant, public conveyance on land or water, 
theatre or other place of public resort or amusement because of 
race, creed or color. 

The same offence is committed by the owner or manager, etc., 
of a building, park or the like open to the public generally at 
stated periods or otherwise who discriminates against any person 
or class of persons in the price charge for admission. 

Persons wearing the uniform of the Army, Navy, Marine 
Corps or Revenue Cutter Service of the United States cannot be 
excluded from equal enjoyment of any accommodations of the 
foregoing kind on account of the uniform they wear. To exclude 
them is a misdemeanor. 



CHAPTER X 

SOCIAL CRIMES 

The social crimes where so-called morality in its widest sense 
is offended include : 

i. Sex offences of nearly all kinds. 
Gambling. 

Use of drugs and narcotics. 
Offences against the Sabbath laws. 



Offences against the regulation of the sale of intoxicants. 
Abduction 



The passion to gratify the sex relation is the motive in all sex 
crimes. It is that which distinguishes abduction from kidnaping. 
In abduction the passion is not realized ; it is the motive which 
prompts the act. When it is realized a more serious crime is 
committed. 

The acts constituting abduction may be the taking, employ- 
ing, harboring, using, procuring, or causing any of them to be 
<lone, inveigling, enticing or detaining. 

The persons who may be the subject of abduction are: 

i. Women under eighteen, even for marriage without par- 
ent's or guardian's consent. 

2. Women over eighteen of previous chaste character, in- 
veigled or enticed into any place with the assigned motive. 

3. Women over eighteen whether of previous chaste charac- 
ter or not when the intent is to use force. 

The persons who may be guilty of abduction are parents, 
husbands or other persons. 

Parents or guardians who consent to the taking of their 
raughter, under eighteen : husbands who marry intending to con- 
summate the marriage with women under eighteen without the 
parents' consent, and others who do any of the acts mentioned 
.above with the sex intent are guilty. Conviction, however, can- 

148 



PRACTICAL POLICE WORK 149 

not be secured on the uncorroborated testimony of the woman. 
A man living with a woman as husband and wife when she is 
tinder eighteen is liable to arrest even if he be her husband when 
the parents' consent was not obtained. 

Abduction really means the carrying away by fraud, persua- 
sion or open violence. 

When the sex relation is consummated the crime is generally 
rape. 

Examples : 

Brown could be charged with abduction under the following 
conditions : 

He is a hotel clerk, and let a room to a man accompanied 
by a woman under eighteen years of age, not his wife, he 
having reason to know that they were not married. 
He and a woman under eighteen to whom he is not mar- 
ried, live in a furnished room as man and wife. 
He married a woman under the age of eighteen years, and 
her parents want him arrested because he did not obtain 
their consent. 
He, with evil intent, put an advertisement in the newspaper 
for a stenographer, locked the door of his office on a 
young "Miss" who entered to seek the position, and 
threatened to keep her a prisoner unless she consented to 
submit to him. 

Abortion 

Abortion is accomplished by medicines or instruments. The 
persons guilty are either the person herself or one who prescribes, 
supplies, uses or administers. The intent is to procure a mis- 
carriage. The crime is not committed when the intent is to save 
the life of the child or woman. The crime is committed by others 
than the victims when the acts are done even though the woman 
was not pregnant. It is also committed when intent is present 
even though the medicine is harmless. 

The attention of policemen is drawn to these cases, usually by 
physicians called in who believe that their patfent is the victim 
of an abortion. In such cases the policeman should not make 
arrest except upon the positive statement of the physician that 
such a crime had been committed. 

When such positive statement is made the policeman should 
arrest every person whom the woman incriminates in her state- 
ment as having done anything to counsel or assist in the opera- 



150 PRACTICAL POLICE WORK 

tion with guilty knowledge of its purpose. It is one of the cases 
where dying declarations should be taken. 

Adultery 

When two persons cohabit, either one of whom is married to 
another, adultery, a misdemeanor is committed. The testimony 
of either is not enough to convict and arrests should be made 
only on a warrant. 

Bigamy 

A person who marries while the wife or husband is living 
is guilty of bigamy, a felony. 

This does not apply: 

i. To a person whose former husband or wife has been 
absent for five years successively then last past, without 
being known to him or her within that time to be living,, 
and believed by him or her to be dead; or, 

2. To a person whose former marriage has been pronounced 
void, or annulled, or dissolved by the judgment of a 
court of competent jurisdiction for a cause other than 
his or her adultery ; or, 

3. To a person who, being divorced for his or her adultery, 
has received from the court permission to marry again ; or, 

4. To a person whose former husband or wife has been 
sentenced to imprisonment for life. 

A person who knowingly enters into a bigamous marriage 
with another is guilty of a felony. 

Mere absence for five years when there is knowledge or rea- 
son to believe the man or woman is alive is not reason enough 
to justify a second marriage. Neither can a person marry with- 
out committing bigamy until the final decree of divorce or sepa- 
ration is signed. 

A marriage is incestuous, void and a felony when contracted 
by persons of nearer relationship than first cousins whether le- 
gitimate or illegitimate. Uncles and nieces could be married 
before 1893. 

A man can marry his stepdaughter after his wife's death. 

Indecency 

Indecency refers to acts that excite lewd, sensual or immoral 



PRACTICAL POLICE WORK 151 

desires. It includes all exhibitions of the nude; paintings of the 
nude ; articles, prints, plays. It applies to the immediate actor ; 
the manager or person in control ; the person in possession who 
intends to pass articles along to others, who gives paints away, 
posts them or puts them on exhibition in any way. The crime is 
a misdemeanor. 

In detail the law punishes the following: 

A person who in any capacity aids in the production of any 
obscene, indecent, immoral, or impure drama, play, exhibition, 
show, or entertainment, or who, having charge or control of a 
Duilding or enclosure, knowingly permits such immoral enter- 
tainment to be given therein, is guilty of a misdemeanor. 

Obscene Prints 

A person who has in his possession, with intent to sell, lend, 
give away or show, or who sells, or offers for sale, lends, gives 
away, shows or advertises any obcene print or article, or in any 
manner manufactures, prepares, publishes, or prints any such 
obscene print or article, or who advertises, or gives information, 
as to where or how obscene prints or articles can be obtained, or 
purchased, or who has in his possession any slot machine, or 
mechanical contrivance, with intent to show, or does show, any 
impure pictures of a nude female, or any other obscene, indecent, 
or immoral picture of any kind, is guilty of a misdemeanor. 

A person who prints, utters, publishes, sells, lends, gives or 
shows, or has in his possession, with intent to sell, lend, give 
away, or show, or otherwise offers for sale, loan, gift, or distri- 
bution, any printed paper devoted to the publication and prin- 
cipally made up of criminal news, police reports, or accounts of 
criminal deeds, or pictures or stories of deeds of bloodshed, lust 
or crime, is guilty of a misdemeanor. 

Indecent Prints, Pictures and Articles 

A person who pastes, posts, paints or exhibits or causes or 
permits to be pasted, posted, painted or exhibited, any obscene 
or immodest picture upon any billboard, wall, or fence, or in or 
upon any public place, is guilty of a misdemeanor. 

A person who sells, or offers to sell, lends or gives away, or 
exhibits, or has in his possession with intent to sell, lend, give 
away or exhibit, any instrument, article or receipt, drug or 
medicine for the prevention of conception, or for causing un- 



152 PRACTICAL POLICE WORK 

lawful abortion, or represents that any such instrument, article, 
receipt, drug or medicine can be so used, or applied, or who 
manufactures such an article, is guilty of a misdemeanor. 

A person who deposits or causes to be deposited in any post- 
office within the State, or places in charge of a common carrier 
for transportation, any obscene print or article, is guilty of a 
misdemeanor. 

The question of indecency is affected by conditions of time, 
place and authorship. The works of Fielding and Rabalais, if 
published in this age would be suppressed as indecent, so would 
many others, which depict real conditions in their times. 

The paintings of great masters, if imitated, in many cases, 
would be considered indecent. Art is not indecent when merely 
considered as art. Nude figures are indecent when only the 
nudity is considered. Again figures perfectly proper in an art 
museum, where persons go to consider art might be indecent when 
exhibited in a saloon. 

Books perfectly proper in a medical college, might be highly 
immoral in a girl's academy. To be more pointed, some of the 
expressions necessarily used in this book would be perfectly 
shocking in a novel printed for the use of young ladies. 

Police have, therefore, to be careful before arresting in many 
cases for indecency, as they are not judges of art or literature. 
When either is concerned, the case should be left to the society 
and to a magistrate. 

Unlawfully Marrying 

A minister or magistrate is guilty of a misdemeanor who 
solemnizes a marriage when either of the parties is known to him 
to be under the age of legal consent, an idiot or insane, or where 
a legal impediment exists ; a person not authorized by law to 
perform marriage ceremonies who does so with intent to de- 
ceive the parties is guilty of a misdemeanor. A person who as- 
sumes without authority to grant a divorce, in writing, purport- 
ing to divorce husband and wife and permitting them or either 
of them to lawfully marry again, is guilty of a misdemeanor. 

Marriage by Force 

A person who by force, menace or duress, compels a woman 
against her will to marry him, or to marry any other person, or 
to be defiled, is punishable by imprisonment for a term not ex- 



PRACTICAL POLICE WORK 153 

■ceeding ten years, or by a fine of not more than one thousand 
dollars, or by both. 

Impersonation 

A person who falsely impersonates another, and, in such as- 
sumed character: 

1. Marries or pretends to marry, or to sustain the marriage 
relation towards another, with or without the conniv- 
ance of the latter 

Is punishable by imprisonment in a State prison for not more 
than ten years. 

A woman who lives with a married man and falsely holds 
herself out as his wife does not come within the provisions of 
this section. 

RAPE 

Rape is a felony. It is committed on a woman not one's 
wife against her will or consent; when she is physically or men- 
tally unable to resist ; when her resistance is overcome by force or 
fear of injury ; when her resistance is overcome by stupor or 
weakness of mind ; when she does not know the nature of the 
act and he knows she does not know ; when she is in the custody 
of the law ; when she is under eighteen even consenting. 
Examples : 

Brown had sexual relations with a female not his wife : 

Who, at the time was a prisoner. 

Who was reluctant, but unable to resist, because she at the 

time was in a stupor from alcohol. 
With her consent, she at the time being a prostitute, but 

under eighteen years of age. 
With her consent, but against her desire, she consenting 
only because he threatened to throw her out of a rapidly 
moving automobile. 
Who resisted to the extent of her ability and had the ut- 
most reluctance to the act. 
It is seldom that the crime is laid to force. In some eighty 
per cent, of the cases where this crime is charged the female is 
under eighteen ; parents have discovered the girl's misconduct 
or she has got into trouble or has become jealous. The arrest 
may be made upon her complaint but other circumstances must 
be adduced in order to bring: about a conviction. A variety of 



154 PRACTICAL POLICE WORK 

circumstances, however, may suffice such as their having lived 
together, occupied the same room, or admissions made by the 
man. The age of the girl must be proved by official records if 
they are obtainable ; otherwise by the best evidence to be had. 

Methods of Assaulting Women 

Cases have come up where women have complained of being 
invited upon joy rides and while in lonely sections assaulted either 
through force or by being threatened with bodily harm and then 
abandoned. 

If a complaint of this kind is made and the offender is un- 
known, the policeman investigating it should make inquiry as 
to the type of automobile and any distinguishing marks noticed 
on it. He should obtain as distinctive a description of the perpe- 
trator as possible, being particular to question the complainant as 
to whether she tore his clothing or scratched him during the 
struggle. He should note any bruises, or scratches that show 
on the complainant's face, or hands as well as all marks of the 
struggle that appear on her clothing and the clothing held as 
evidence. He should request her to submit to a medical ex- 
amination, and make note of any evidence found by the physi- 
cian. He should visit the scene with the complainant and make 
a thorough search there for evidence and witnesses who may 
have seen the accused. If the complainant met the accused at a 
cabaret, etc., he should accompany her to such place in search of 
him and make discreet inquiry of waiters or others as to his 
identity. 

If the perpetrator be arrested, his body and clothing should be 
subjected to a minute scrutiny, for any evidence of the crime, 
particularly hairs from the victim's body adhering to his clothing. 
His home should be searched for discarded clothing, or other 
evidence. 

All clothing to be used as evidence should be taken from the 
perpetrator and safeguarded. 

Assaults Upon Little Girls 

Assaults upon little girls are sometimes made with acquies- 
cence, sometimes through the use of force. When the child ac- 
quiesces she has usually been influenced by presents, candy, or 
treats into believing the man is friendly. Frequently the crime 
goes undetected for a long time. 



PRACTICAL POLICE WORK 155 

When force is used the child has first been taken into a cellar, 
dark hall or out-of-the-way place and there assaulted. It is in 
these cases that murder is committed from the fear that the 
child will inform. 

The persons who commit this sort of crime are generally ig- 
norant libertine foreigners, mental defectives or boys of the 
neighborhood. The Children's Society should at once be called 
into such cases. Various kinds of evidence should be looked for 
by the police; corroboration of the child's statements in any 
particular; appearance of clothes, evidence of the presence of the 
perpetrator and the child in the place specified, finger-prints, 
stains, marks and anything which had any bearing upon the 
subject should be collected. 

Seduction 

» 

There are two kinds of representations that a man can make to 
a woman which if followed by her acquiescence makes the crime 
seduction and a felony. They are 

Promise of marriage. 

Fraudulent representation that they are already married. The 
woman must be unmarried and of previous chaste character, and 
the promise must be absolute, not conditional such as a promise 
to marry if the woman got in trouble as a result of the relationship. 

A woman can be seduced but once. Subsequent marriage be- 
fore judgment of conviction or the lapse of two years is a bar 
to indictment. Corroborative testimony is necessary to convic- 
tion. It may be circumstantial. 

The master of an American vessel who, during the voyage 
seduces a woman, is guilty under the Federal statutes. The 
methods used may have been promise of marriage, threats, author- 
ity, solicitation or gifts. 

Vagrants 

Prostitution is the giving of her body by a woman for hire. 

Soliciting by man or woman for the purposes of prostitution 
is vagrancy. 

Vagrants are liable to conviction for disorderly conduct. 

The following are vagrants, under section 887, Code of Crim- 
inal Procedure: 

A person 

1. Who offers to commit prostitution, or. 



156 PRACTICAL POLICE WORK 

2. Who offers to secure a female for the purpose of prosti- 
tution or for any other lewd or indecent act ; or, 

3. Who loiters in, or near, any thoroughfare or public, or 
private place, for the purpose of inducing, enticing, or 
procuring another to commit lewdness, fornication, or 
any other indecent act, or, 

4. Who in any manner induces, entices or procures a person 
who is in any thoroughfare, or public, or private place, to 
commit any such acts ; or, 

5. Who is a common prostitute who has no lawful employ- 
ment whereby to maintain herself. 

Under the Tenement House Law, a person is guilty of 
Vagrancy who: 

1. Solicits another to enter a house of prostitution or a 
room in a tenement house or any part thereof for the 
purpose of prostitution ; or, 

2. Indecently exposes the person for the purpose of pros- 
titution or other indecency; or, 

3. Commits prostitution* in a tenement house or any part 
thereof; or, 

4. Knowingly resides in a place of prostitution, assignation 
or ill-fame of any description in a tenement house ; or, 

5. Keeps or maintains a house of prostitution, assignation or 
ill-fame of any description in a tenement house, and 
upon conviction is liable to be committed to the county- 
jail for a term not exceeding six months. The procedure 
in such case is the same as that provided by law for 
other cases* of vagrancy. 

A tenement house is deemed to have been used for the pur- 
pose specified in the last two sections with the permission of the- 
owner, agent and lessee thereof in the following cases : 

1. If the summary proceedings for the removal of the ten- 
ants of the tenement house, or of so much thereof as is 
unlawfully used, have not been commenced within five- 
days after notice of such unlawful use, served by the 
department charged with the enforcement of this chap- 
ter in the manner prescribed by law for the service of 
notices and orders in relation to tenement houses ; or 
having been commenced, are not in good faith diligently 
prosecuted to final determination. 

2. If there be two or more convictions in the same tenement 
house within a period of six months either under section 
one hundred and fiftv of the tenement house law or under 



PRACTICAL POLICE WORK 157 

section eleven hundred and forty-six of the penal law. 

In an action to collect a penalty or for other punishment the 
evil repute in which a tenement was held by neighbors is pre- 
sumptive knowledge that the owner knew of it. Inasmuch, 
however, as presumption may be rebutted, a policeman should 
not rely upon reputation, but try to bring home knowledge 
through direct information furnished him. 

The keeping of a disorderly house even though not a tene- 
ment is a misdemeanor. A conviction breaks the lease of the 
person convicted, and the owner who does not break such lease 
and enter upon the premises is guilty of a misdemeanor if the 
condition continue. To rent or lease a building for that purpose 
or having reason to believe it will be so used is a misdemeanor. 
The keeping of such a house is also a public nuisance, but in order 
to establish a public nuisance at least three persons must join 
in the complaint about its being disorderly. 

It is a violation of the Hotel Law to : 

(a) Let rooms to prostitutes or for the purpose of prostitu- 
tion ; 

(b) Let the same room to more than one party of one or 
more persons between 9 p. m. and 6 a. m. ; 

(c) Let rooms to persons unless they sign the register in the 
public office ; 

(d) Rent rooms to persons who do not sign their names in 
the presence of the manager or clerk : 

(e) Knowingly rent rooms to persons who sign fictitious 
names. 

Persons in charge of hotels licensed to sell liquor must permit 
them to be inspected between 9 a. m. and 6 p. m., or any other 
time when open for business by : 

(a) Building Inspectors; 

(b) Peace Officers ; 

(c) The Mayor, or any person authorized by him; 

(d) Excise Inspectors. 

The evidence needed by a policeman to warrant him in ar- 
resting a woman on the street for soliciting would be 

1. If he heard himself or another solicited by her; 

2. If he knew her to have been convicted before and sees her 
stop several "men in quick succession and apparently so- 
licit them. 

3. When he suspects the woman to be a prostitute and sees 
her stop and apparently solicit a number of men in quick 
succession. 



158 PRACTICAL POLICE WORK 

In the last case the woman should first be driven away, the 
men she solicited should be ^questioned; if she continues she 
should be arrested. 

Disorderly House — Evidence 

Some art is necessary in collecting and securing evidence in 
•disorderly house cases. 

The policeman assigned to such duty should endeavor to 
learn the password, countersign, etc., used by the patrons to 
gain admission and use them to obtain admission. On entering, 
he should endeavor to secure evidence against the madam, maid, 
or other person by asking for a particular girl, or by bargaining 
with such person, or in her presence, on the price to be paid to 
the girl selected. The policeman should not solicit the girl he 
selects, or commit a wrongful act. 

When it is not practicable for more than one policeman to 
enter at the one time, the necessary corroborative evidence may 
be secured by one policeman remaining on the outside when the 
other enters, the policeman on the outside noting the time that 
the other policeman entered and the time he came out. 

When sufficient evidence is obtained, the woman who ex- 
posed herself and the keeper of the disorderly house may be 
arrested without a warrant, or the evidence may be presented 
to a magistrate and a warrant requested. 

If the magistrate issue a warrant the premises should be 
entered, the warrant executed and women for whom the warrant 
had been issued arrested. 

Tenement House Prostitution 

To get evidence against a house of prostitution, entrance may 
be obtained and the person in charge connected with the viola- 
tion in the manner above described. The female who offered to 
commit the act with the policeman, and all persons residing in, 
or having charge of the apartment where the act is to be com- 
mitted, or who aids or abets should be arrested on a charge of 
vagrancy; the owner proceeded against if the evidence be suffi- 
cient; a certificate that the building is a tenement should be ob- 
tained from the Tenement House Department. Such cases are 
reported weekly by the Police Department to the Tenement 
House Department. 



PRACTICAL POLICE WORK 159 

Disorderly Saloons, Cabarets, Etc. 

When a saloon is suspected a couple of policemen are as- 
signed for the purpose of obtaining evidence. If they hear or 
see persons therein using indecent or profane language, commit- 
ting obscene acts, or women solciting men and the proprietor, 
manager or employees fail to take immediate action to correct 
such conditions, they report such facts to their Commanding 
Officer and under his direction apply to Magistrate for a warrant. 

NOTE : In order to prove that the disorder complained of is 
continuous, usually several visits are made to a suspected place 
begore a warrant is applied for. 

Evidence against disorderly hotels is usually obtained by po- 
licemen acting in pairs who successively permit a woman to 
solicit them and bring them to the hotel, taking care to let the 
clerk in charge see that the purpose in each case is immoral. 
Another method pursued is to keep the place under observation 
for a few days, note any woman that enters at different times 
with different men, enter her bedroom, and question her as to her 
relationship towards her companion, and if the evidence war- 
rants it, arrest her and the hotel clerk, or present the case to a 
Magistrate for a warrant. If there be not enough evidence to 
warrant proceedings under the hotel law, efforts should be made 
to obtain evidence of some other violation of law under which 
the hotel man can be prosecuted. 

There are houses where the women do not receive men, but 
are called up, a girl asked for, and in response is sent to a desig- 
nated place. It is hard to get evidence against such places. By 
listening on the telephone and watching for the girl to go to the 
designated place, sometimes the evidence to convict is obtained. 

To permit immoral persons habitually to frequent a place 
renders the persons conducting or in charge of the place liable 
as a disorderly person. 

A woman associating with thieves or immoral persons or 
vicious companions, habitually drunk or diseased and suffering 
from debaucheries can be committed by a magistrate to an in- 
stitution where she will get medical aid to restore her to health. 

Suspicious Disorderly Houses or Apartments 

1. If an arrest has been made for violation of the laws 
relative to prostitution or maintenance of a public nuisance. 

2. If the premises are frequented almost exclusively by men. 



160 PRACTICAL POLICE WORK 

and women are observed therein having no apparent occupation 
other than that of prostitution. 

3. If inspection of the premises be refused, and the reputa- 
tion of the premises be that prostitution is being carried on. 

Disorderly Hotels or Bed Houses 

1. If an arrest has been made for prostitution or mainte- 
nance of a public nuisance. 

2. If known street prostitutes frequent the premises. 

3. If a majority of the couples entering the place remain 
only a short time and do not carry baggage. 

Disorderly Saloons, Restaurants, Etc. 

1. If prostitutes resort there apparently with the knowledge 
of the licensee or an employee, solicit men, and take them from 
the premises apparently for the purpose of prostitution. 

2. If males and females congregate and use indecent or pro- 
fane language, or conduct themselves in an obscene manner, ap- 
parently with the knowledge of the licensee or any employee, and 
immediate action is not taken by them to correct the condition. 

Gambling 

1. If an arrest has been made for gambling. 

2. If information be received that gambling is being car- 
ried on, whether the proprietor or his agent is directly operating 
the game, or is profiting indirectly by sharing in the proceeds, or 
by renting the room or any of the material used in the operation 
of the game. 

3. If gambling paraphernalia be found, such as roulette 
wheels, faro and crap layouts, telephones, racing charts or sheets, 
and the police have information that they are being' used for 
gambling purposes. 

4. If inspection of the premises be refused, and the reputa- 
tion is that gambling is conducted there. 

Service of Liability Notice 

When it is suspected that the law relating to public morals is 
violated in a certain premise, or if an arrest has been made 
for such a violation, the Commanding Officer of the Precinct, 



PRACTICAL POLICE WORK 161 

when directed to do so by the Inspector of the District, serves 
or causes the owner of such premises to be served with liability 
notice. 

When a policeman is sent to serve such notice, an entry of 
the fact and a brief synopsis of the violation for which it is to be 
served should be made in the Blotter. After service has been 
effected, the time of service and the name of the person served 
should be entered. 

The policeman directed to serve a liability notice should 
exercise great care that he serve it on the person it is intended 
for. Some owners evade the law by having a person receive 
such notice, who falsely represents himself as the person it is 
intended for. 

If it be not possible to locate the owner in person, a registered 
letter should be directed to him and his signature in receipt 
identified and offered in court as proof of service. 

If the suspected disorderly premises be owned by a corpora- 
tion, service of liability notice should be made on an officer of 
the corporation. 

The owner of a suspected disorderly house is required to 
eject the persons complained of within five (5) days after re- 
ceiving a liability notice. Failing to do so, and upon conviction 
of the person complained of, the owner can be prosecuted for 
abetting such violation. In case the violation be of the Tenement 
House Law, he may also be sued civilly by the Tenement House 
Department for a penalty of one thousand ($1,000.00) dollars. 

If there be two or more convictions in the same tenement 
house, within a period of six (6) months, either under Section 
150 of the Tenement House Law, or under Section 1146 of the 
Penal Law, such fact is proof of responsibility of the owner, 
agent, or lessee, even though no liability notice had been served. 

Safeguarding Raided Premises 

After a premise is raided for a violation of the law relating 
to public morals, the District Inspector may assign a patrolman 
thereto, for the purpose of safeguarding the evidence and pre- 
venting a continuance of the nuisance. 

Prostitution (Felony) 

A person is guilty of Compulsory Prostitution, who 
Imports a woman into this State or exports one from this 
State for immoral purposes; 



162 PRACTICAL POLICE WORK 

Attempts to entice or procure a woman to come into this 
State or go from this State for any other immoral purpose ; 

Places any female in a house of prostitution, or attempts to 
induce her to become an inmate of such a house; 

Compels or attempts to compel a woman to lead an immoral 
life; 

Receives money or other valuable thing for placing a woman 
in a house of prostitution or elsewhere, for the purpose of 
causing her to cohabit with any male person to whom she 
is not married; 

Pays any money or value to procure a woman for the purpose 
of placing her for an immoral purpose anywhere; 

Knowingly receives money or value for procuring and placing 
a female in the custody of another for immoral purposes; 

Holds or attempt to hold or detain a woman in an immoral 
resort for the purpose of compelling her by her service or 
labor to pay any debt, dues, or obligations incurred or said 
to have been incurred by her; 

Knowingly accepts, receives, or appropriates any money or 
other valuable thing, without consideration, from the pro- 
ceeds or earnings of a prostitute; 

By force or fraud, persuades his own wife; or the wife of 
another person to lead a life of immorality. 

A conviction for Compulsory Prostitution cannot be obtained 
on the testimony of the female, unsupported by other evidence. 

Every male person who lives wholly or in part on the earn- 
ings of prostitution, or who in any public place solicits for 
immoral purposes, is guilty of a misdemeanor. A male person 
who lives with or is habitually in the company of a prostitute 
and has no visible means of support, is presumed to be guilty. 

Alien Prostitutes (Federal Law) 

A person is guilty of a felony who imports any alien into 
the United States: 

i. For the purpose of prostitution. 

2. For any immoral purpose. 

3. Holds an alien prostitute after her importation for the 
purpose of prostitution. 

4. Maintains, controls or employs an alien prostitute after 
importation, for the purpose of prostitution. 

An alien may be deported: 



PRACTICAL POLICE WORK 163 

1. If she or he manage a house of prostitution in the United 
States. 

2. If she reside in a house of prostitution in the United 
States. 

3. If he or she rent property for the purpose of prostitu- 
tion. 

4. If he or she protect, or promise to protect, prostitutes 
from arrest. 

5. If he or she receive or share in the earnings of a prosti- 
tute. 

6. If he or she within 5 years after entering the United 
States commit an offense involving moral terpitude. 

An alien who, after being deported for any of the above 
offenses, again enters or attempts to enter the United States, is 
guilty of a misdemeanor. 

The following are the provisions of the ordinances relative 
to massage institutes and operators : 

MASSAGE INSTITUTES AND OPERATORS 

Definitions; Character; Institutes 

A person who applies manual or mechanical massage or simi- 
lar treatment to the human trunk or limbs is deemed to be 
intended within the terms of the ordinance, a massage operator, 
but no person comprehended within the provisions of section 
219 of the Sanitary Code, entitled nurses, or section -73 of the 
Public Health Law, relating to osteopathy, is deemed to be in- 
tended within the provisions of this ordinance. 

Any place in which two or . more massage operators give 
treatment is deemed to be intended within the terms of the 
ordinance a massage establishment or institute. No establish- 
ment incorporated as a hospital or sanitarium or comprehended 
under section 226 of the Sanitary Code, entitled hospitals, or 
section 340 of the Sanitary Code, relating to bathing establish- 
ments, is deemed to be within the provisions of this ordinance. 

Massage places and operators are licensed by the Commis- 
sioner of Licenses. He has the power to revoke the license not 
only for violations of the law but in case an operator treats an- 
other of the opposite sex without a physician's permit who is 
limited to authorize not more than ten treatments. If, however, 
such treatments are given in the residence of the patient, the 



r.4 PRACTICAL POLICE WORK 

office of a physician, or in a hospital or sanitarium the number is 
not limited to ten. 

Gambling 

Gambling is one of the social crimes which keeps the police 
ever in trouble. Persons concerned in gambling may be felons, 
misdemeanants or guilty of no crime according to circumstances. 
The felons are the common gamblers, broadly speaking, the men 
who run the game or those who directly manage it for them. 
Misdemeanants are sometimes aiders and abetters who do not 
directly get the profit but indirectly benefit, such as the owner of 
a building who lets it to a man who hires it out for gambling, touts, 
betters on horses as a business, sellers of lottery tickets and of 
slot machines, and keepers of places where they are sold or kept. 
Non-criminals are the "suckers" who play against the house, 
or persons indulging in a friendly game where there is no 
"house" and all compete on even terms. 

Against Brown and Jones playing a friendly game of poker 

where nobody was getting a rake-off, a crime could not 

be charged, but if Brown was getting a "rake-off" for 

permitting the game to be played in his house, he would 

be a common gambler, but Jones would not. 

A common gambler is the owner, agent or superintendent of 

a place who permits gambling to be carried on there, or does 

any of the following: 

Hires the place or allows it to be used for gambling. 
Controls a gaming table or apparatus and allows it to be 

used for gambling. 
Acts as game-keeper, player or dealer in any gambling game. 
Endorses a book or document to enable others to sell lot- 
tery policies. 
Keeps a place for playing policy or aids or abets the game 

of policy. 
Sells or offers a document evidential of a bet, wager or 
insurance on the drawing of numbers of a lottery, public 
or private. 
When a gambling house is raided and gambling paraphernalia 
taken as evidence, the names and addresses of persons present 
should be secured, if possible for the District Attorney, who can 
summon them as witnesses. They cannot, however, be com- 
pelled to identify themselves. 



PRACTICAL POLICE WORK 165 

POLICY A FELONY 

The game of policy is a swindle where the poor and ignorant 
are cheated out of their pennies. It is played by betting that 
certain numbers from 1 to 78 will come in a drawing in an order 
named. 

A person is a Common Gambler who conducts or knowingly 
keeps a place where such a game is conducted ; or, 

Who aids in conducting such a game. Possession of policy 
slips is presumptive of unlawful use. 

To call this a gambling game is misnomer, because the per- 
sons who conduct it are "sure thing gamblers," the player's chance 
of winning being non-existent. 

The game is usually conducted as follows : 

The backer employs agents and assigns them to tenement 
sections. 

These agents advertise themselves to prospective patrons. 

The patron bets on certain numbers, the agent records the 
numbers on manifold sheets, forwards one of the sheets, or tele- 
phones the plays to the backer. 

The backer computes all the numbers played through all his 
agencies and gives out as winning numbers those showing most 
profit to himself. 

The agent, upon notification of the winning numbers, pays 
those who played them. 

Italian Policy 

The drawing in this game is supposed to take place once a 
week in Italy. The numbers run from 1 to 86. 

The player plays numbers to appear in a certain order after 
one or all of the eight Italian States, printed on the policy ticket. 
If they win they are paid after the drawing is alleged to take 
place in Italy. This, like American policy, is a "fake." The 
backers of it usually reside in some Italian section of the city 
where the drawing takes place, and like the American game, is a 
"sure thing" chance for the gambler. 

Chinese Policy 

Is somewhat similar to American policy except that the num- 
bers on tickets are in Chinese Characters. 

As all the above forms of policy are felonies, every person 



i66 PRACTICAL POLICE WORK 

concerned should be arrested and all things u^ed in carrying on 
the game seized as evidence. 

In making arrests for policy, it is always well to surround 
premises where the game is conducted. A thorough search 
should then be made, especially of desks and drawers. Persons 
found on the premises should be frisked, those on whom policy 
tickets are found, and those whom it is reasonable to suppose 
were either conducting the game, or aiding it arrested. Some- 
times the policy slips found are simply written numbers on ordi- 
nary paper. These are sufficient to warrant an arrest. In order 
to secure a conviction some competent policeman should be pres- 
ent in court to testify that the slips were policy slips and that, to 
his knowledge, persons had been convicted for possessing sim- 
ilar slips. 

The owner of a building where policy playing is conducted 
is served with a liability notice in the manner described under 
Common Gambler. 

Any private person who has knowledge that a policy game 
is carried on in a certain premises can serve a liability notice on 
the owner the same as if a policeman. 

Pool Selling and Bookmaking 

A person, is guilty of a misdemeanor who takes bets as a 
business 

i. In any contest of speed, skill or endurance of man or 
animal. 

2. On the result of any political nomination or election. 

3. On any unknown or contingent event. 

Or who keeps a place where such bets are made. 
To accept an incidental bet on the races is not gambling. To 
take the bets of all comers, as a practice or business is gambling, 
even though no record be made. 
Examples : 

White, not a professional gamester, accepted a bet from 
his friends, Jones and Smith, that High-flyer would win a 
certain race. No crime. 
Black, a "known hand book man," accepted bets from Jones 
and Smith, that High-flyer would win a certain race. 
Gambling. 

Getting Evidence Against Poolrooms 

When a complaint or information is received that a pool- 



PRACTICAL POLICE WORK 167 

room is being conducted in certain premises, the policemen 
handling the case should : 

Keep the place under observation for a few days, noting the 
number of persons who entered or left, the time they did 
so, and their names and addresses, if known; 
Obtain entrance in the best way at hand, as by forming ac- 
quaintance with one of the patrons and being introduced 
by him to the doorkeeper. 
Upon entering, observe particularly all persons engaged in the 
carrying on of the poolroom, such as telephone operators, 
sheet writers, cashiers, announcers, clerks, etc., and make 
a secret memorandum of everything said and done by them 
of value as evidence; note the description of unknown 
persons. 
Note the names of the horses posted, the location of the 
tracks, the bets they made and the bets they heard others 
making. 
At least two policemen should corroborate each other. 
After the necessary evidence is obtained it is either submitted 
to a Magistrate for a warrant or an arrest made without a war- 
rant. Upon an arrest, all racing sheets, charts, pay slips, or 
other paraphernalia that may be used as evidence in the case 
should be seized. Telephones used in carrying on the business 
should be taken as evidence. Before removing telephones, how- 
ever, the Wire Chief of the telephone company should be notified 
of the reason for the removal, and given the telephone number 
of such as are removed. 

The names and addresses of all persons in the poolroom and 
not arrested should be obtained. Such persons should be ques- 
tioned as to the reason for their presence and their answers noted. 
The Inspector of the District should be notified immediately of 
the arrest so that he may cause a policeman to be stationed in 
the poolroom to prevent future violations of the law there. 

NOTE: If it be impracticable to gain entrance to a partic- 
ular premise where a poolroom is being maintained, the necessary 
evidence may sometimes be obtained by listening on a tele- 
phone, making note of conversations, but this kind of evidence is 
admitted in such cases only when the speaker is identified by 
his voice. 

Handbook Men 

A policeman who suspects that a particular person is making 



j68 PRACTICAL POLICE WORK 

a handbook, should carefully observe such person's actions. If 
he see the man in conversation with one likely to be a customer 
he should endeavor to overhear the conversation and note if any 
money or memorandum be passed from one to the other. 

He should try to get evidence by placing a bet. The money 
bet by the policeman should first be marked. 

If a policeman obtain the necessary evidence against a hand- 
book man, either by placing a bet or by overhearing him accept a 
bet from another, he should arrest him, being careful not to give 
him an opportunity to destroy racing slips, or evidence that may 
be on his person. When searched in the station house, all racing 
slips, or other such evidence found on him must be carefully 
safeguarded. A handbook man found loitering on a public street, 
to the annoyance of passersby, may be summoned for a violation 
of a corporation ordinance. 

Lottery 

Is the distribution of property by chance among persons who 
have paid, or agreed to pay, a valuable consideration for such 
chance, whether the distribution be called lottery, prize drawing 
or any other such name. 

The contriver is guilty of a felony. 

It was once a scheme by which kings raised money to pay 
their expenses and countries and States sanctioned it as a means 
of raising futfds ordinarily raised by taxes. 

Sometimes no written or printed tickets are used, the raffle 
or lottery numbers being placed in a book and the person paying 
for a chance, simply selects a number and writes his name oppo- 
site it. A person selling chances in this way is just as guilty as 
if he sold the tickets. 

The same rule would apply to cards sometimes hung up in 
barber shops or saloons. A certain sum is paid for a chance to 
punch a hole in a card. The lucky get cigars or other kinds of 
merchandise. The person selling such chances is guilty of selling 
lottery tickets. 

The rule applies to such contrivances as wheel of fortune and 
to wheels where they sell slats with numbers on them, when, after 
spinning the wheel, the person holding the slat with the lucky 
numbers is entitled to a box of candy or other trifle. 

Such contrivances as throwing rings over canes, over duck's 
necks, or the like, are considered games of skill rather than 
games of chance, but some such as Japanese pool tables found 



PRACTICAL POLICE WORK 169 

at seaside resorts, are on the dividing line. When there is a doubt 
as to whether the game is one of skill, or chance, a summary 
arrest should not be made, but the facts presented to a Magis- 
trate and a warrant applied for. 

Where there is no doubt, a summary arrest can be made and 
the evidence of the lottery, such as books, tickets, property raffled 
and the like seized. 

Keeping a place where lottery tickets are sold or selling tickets 
or chances is a misdemeanor. 
For instance : 

"Jones, a barber, has lottery cards in his store and Brown, 
his employee, sells chances to customers." Jones is guilty 
of keeping a place where lottery tickets are sold (misde- 
meanor) and Brown, his employee, guilty of selling lot- 
tery tickets (misdemeanor). 
Where lottery tickets are sold, the person selling them is guilty 
of crime, and the person controlling such place, who knowingly 
permits their sale is guilty. This means a place where the sale 
of tickets is carried on as a business and not as an incident. 

A person who advertises a lottery, whether such lottery is 
held within or without the State is guilty of a misdemeanor. 

Slot Machines 

Slot machines that violate the law are mechanical devices 
equipped with contrivances which determine what chances one 
has for getting something in return for the money he inserts. 

In every such machine there is an element of chance that 
tempts both children and adults. As a consequence it not only 
forms the gambling habit, but enters into unfair competition with 
the automatic vending machine which is a public convenience. 

The selling, leasing or unlawful possession of a gambling slot 
machirfe is a misdemeanor, in addition it is a violation of the 
liquor tax law to maintain it in a saloon. 

Action by Policemen in Suppressing Gambling 

When gambling is conducted in a building it is difficult for 
a uniformed policeman to obtain legal evidence, consequently 
he should report all the facts in his possession to his Commanding: 
Officer, particularly the names and addresses of. all persons who 
complain of such condition. He should be observant while 00 
post and report what he sees to his Commanding Officer. 



170 PRACTICAL POLICE WORK 

Policemen should be suspicious of all houses where blinds are 
constantly drawn, front door closed, number of men seen to 
enter and leave during the hours when races are being run, or late 
at night, when other forms of gambling are likely to be in- 
dulged in. 

Policemen should make summary arrests for street gambling 
such as crap shooting and charge disorderly conduct. 

Liability Notice 

If a person be arrested for keeping and maintaining a gam- 
bling house, or poolroom, in certain premises, or if it be reason- 
able to suppose that unlawful gambling is being carried on there 
the Commanding Officer of the Precinct where such premises are 
located, when ordered to do so by the Commanding Officer of 
the District, serves a liability notice on the owner, agent or lessee 
and must within five days after the receipt of notice eject the 
person complained of. If he fails to do so, and a conviction be 
afterwards obtained, such owner, etc., is deemed criminally liable. 
The notice affords presumptive evidence of knowledge. 

Bucket Shops 

A person, firm or corporation, acting in his own right, or 
as agent of another, who makes or offers to make any contract 
respecting the purchase or sale of any security or commodity 
wherein both parties intend that such contract shall be terminated 
when the market quotation of prices for such security or commod- 
ity reach a certain figure, without intending a bona fide purchase 
vOr sale is guilty of a felony. 

T* Written Statement to Be Furnished; Presumption 

Brokers must furnish, upon written demand to a customer, or 
principal for whom they have executed orders for the actual 
purchase or sale of securities or commodities, either for imme- 
diate or future delivery, a written statement containing the names 
of the persons from whom such property was bought, or to whom 
it has been sold, the time when, place where, the amount of, and 
the price at which the same was either bought or sold. If such 
brokers refuse or neglect to furnish such statement within forty- 
eight hours after demand, refusal shall be prima facie evidence 
that purchase or sale was made in violation of this article. 



CHAPTER XI 

MISCELLANEOUS OFFENCES 

Narcotics 

The manufacture, keeping, sale, distribution and use of nar- 
cotics and habit- forming drugs are regulated by the Federal, 
State and local laws. The Federal law is known as the Harrison 
law and the local law as section 126 of the Sanitary Code. 

The State law has been amended from time to time, but the 
laws of 1918 creating a department of drug control supercedes 
all previous laws that contain any provisions in conflict with it. 

The Harrison law is designed to prevent inter-state traffic in 
the drug. Its provisions are enforced by the Federal officials,, 
and the only duties the police have in connection with its viola- 
tion, is to report to the Federal officials such conditions as they 
may find which transgressed such law. 

The general intent of all three enactments are similar. Since 
the State law is thorough enough to cover all but a few of the 
conditions that can arise and since the Sanitary Code cannot con- 
flict with it, while the Federal law will reach only such outsiders 
as the State law cannot touch, it follows that the police should 
get thoroughly acquainted with the State law rather than with the 
Federal law. Attempts to get acquainted with both enactments 
are likely to produce confusions of thought. 

All three laws have been passed to combat the growing evil 
of the use of narcotics, an evil which was unknown in this coun- 
try a generation ago; a habit to which the Chinese, the Spanish 
war, the colored man migrating from the South and the cure-all 
quacks of the nineties have all contributed. 

The conditions enumerated and discussed concern the State 
law. The department in control is in charge of a Commissioner, 
called the. Commissioner of Narcotic Drug Control who can 
make rules and regulations that have the force and effect of law. 

i/i 



172 PRACTICAL POLICE WORK 

No manufacturer, wholesaler, apothecary, physician, dentist, 
veterinarian or private hospital, sanitarium, or institution main- 
tained, however conducted, can purchase, receive, sell, distribute, 
prescribe, administer, or dispense coacine, or opium or its deriva- 
tives, unless prior thereto registered with the department and 
possessing a certificate authorizing him to carry on such business. 

A Manufacturer to Sell or Distribute Cocaine and Opium, or 

Its Derivatives Within This State 

Must register with the department and get a certificate of 
authority; keep a record of all drugs manufactured, sold or dis- 
tributed within the State, containing the date of each sale, or 
distribution, the name and amount of the drug sold or distributed, 
the name and address of each person to whom sold or distributed, 
and report as often as required, to the department. 

A Wholesaler of Such Drugs 

Must be registered with the department and have a certificate 
of authority. 

Keep a record of all drugs purchased or received within the 
State containing the date of each purchase or receipt, the 
name and address of the person from whom, and the name 
and quantity of the drug purchased or received. 

Keep a like record of all drugs sold for use or distribution 

within the State, the date, name, amount and form of each 

such drug sold or distributed, and the name and address of each 

person to whom sold or distributed. 
! Make report to the department as often as required. 

An Apothecary 

Must : 

'Keep a record of all cocaine, opium, or its derivatives, pur- 
chased or received by him containing the date of each pur- 
chase or receipt, name and address of each person from 
whom and the name and quantity of each such drug pur- 
chased or received. 

A record of the amount sold at wholesale, or dispose! of on 



PRACTICAL POLICE WORK 173 

official order blanks, the amount used in the preparation 
of remedies and how disposed of, the gross amount dis- 
pensed upon prescriptions. 

Report as often as required to the department the informa- 
tion contained in such records, with the amount of each 
drug on hand. 

Dispense upon an unofficial prescription blank, signed by a 
physician with the name, age and address of the physi- 
cian, the person for whom and the date when issued, pro- 
vided such prescription does not contain more than five 
grains of cocaine, thirty grains of opium, six grains of 
codeine, four grains of morphine or two grains of heroin; 
upon a like prescription drugs in excess of such respective 
quantities if it be stated upon the prescription that it is 
to be used in the treatment of a surgical case, or a disease, 
other than drug addiction. Each such original prescription 
must be kept in a separate file for two years and not re- 
filled, provided that a prescription which does not contain 
more than the lawful quantity need not be separately filed. 
If such prescription call for an exempt preparation or 
remedy prepared in accordance with the "U. S. P.," "N. F.," 
or other recognized or established formula, usually car- 
ried in stock by a dealer and sold without a prescription, it 
need not be separately filed and may, upon request, be 
refilled. 

Dispense upon prescription in writing by a physician contain- 
ing his office address and the name, age and address of 
the person for whom and the date when issued, within four 
days from such date, within or in excess of the quantities 
hereinbefore mentioned, if such prescription be written upon 
a serially numbered official prescription blank delivered to 
him in duplicate, provided he keep one of said duplicates in 
a separate file for a period of two years and within twenty- 
four hours, mail the other to the department ; such pre- 
scription must not be refilled. 
Dispense such drugs upon the prescription of a veterinarian 
containing his office address and the name and address of 
the owner of the animal for which the drug is prescribed, 
provided he keep the prescription on file for two years an 1 
not refill it. 
Whenever an apothecary pursuant to the prescription written 
upon an official prescription blank dispenses such drug he 
shall affix to the container a label stating, in English, the 



174 PRACTICAL POLICE WORK 

name and address of the physician prescribing, his own 
name and address, and the date when, and the name and 
address of the person for whom and the name and quantity 
of such drug dispensed and contained in the container. 

A Physician 

A physician in the lawful practice of his profession may in 
good faith prescribe: 

Upon an unofficial prescription blank not more than five 
grains of cocaine, thirty grains of opium, six grains 
of codeine, four grains of morphine, or two grains of heroin. 

Issue a prescription upon an unofficial prescription blank for 
drugs in excess of such quantities, as may reasonably be 
required in the treatment of a surgical case, or a disease 
other than drug addiction, if such fact be stated upon the 
prescription. Every other prescription for any of such 
drugs must be written upon an official prescription blank in 
triplicate, signed by him, and containing in legible English 
or Latin, the name and amount of the drug prescribed, the 
name, age and address of the person for whom and the date 
when the prescription is issued. 

Deliver the original and one other of such triplicate prescrip- 
tions to an apothecaary and retain the other copy on file for 
a period of two years. 

Administer or dispense to a patient whom he is treating, not 
to exceed two grains of cocaine, fifteen grains of opium, 
three grains of codeine, two grains of morphine, one-fourth 
grain of heroin. 

Dispense while absent from his office in personal attendance 
upon a patient whom he is treating, to be taken in his ab- 
sence, not to exceed fifteen grains of opium, three grains 
of codeine, two grains of morphine, or one-fourth grain of 
heroin. 

If he otherwise administer or dispense any of such drugs, he 
must fill out official physician's dispensing blank in dupli- 
cate, keep the original for at least two years and mail the 
copy to the department within twenty-four hours. 

On dispensing any such drug on an official prescription blank, 
he must label the container in the manner described under 
Apothecary, keep a proper record of all such drugs pur- 
chased, received or dispensed by him, and make a report 
to the Department of Drug Control as often as required^ 
setting forth the information contained in such record. 



PRACTICAL POLICE WORK 175 

A Veterinarian 

IMust register with the Department and have written author- 
ity to prescribe or administer such drugs. He may possess 
such drugs in such quantities as he requires in the practice 
of his profession and administer or dispense them in the 
course of his professional practice, and prescribe any of 
such drugs but not for use by a human being. 

Each prescription issued must be signed by him and contain 
in legible English the name and amount of the drug pre- 
scribed, the name and address of the owner of the animal 
for which, and the date when the prescription is issued. 

He must keep a proper record of all such drugs purchased, re- 
ceived or dispensed by him, and report to the department 
as often as required the usual information. 

A Dentist 

Must register with the Department and be authorized to use 

such drugs in the practice of his profession. 
Possess these drugs in such quantities as he may require for 

administering in the course of his professional practice. 
Administer to persons under his immediate treatment, but 

only in quantities necessary. 
Xeep proper record of all such drugs purchased or received 

by him and make a report to the department when asked. 

Possession of Drugs by Consumers 

_A person for whom cocaine, opium or its derivatives has 
been dispensed by an apothecary or physician, for the dis- 
pensing of which no label is required on the container, and 
the owner of an animal for which any of such drugs have 
been dispensed by a veterinarian or an apothecary upon the 
prescription of a veterinarian may lawfully possess the 
same. It may lawfully be possessed by a person for whom 
any of such drugs have been dispensed by an apothecary 
or physician for the dispensing of which a label is required 
to be affixed to the container, in the container delivered to 
him by the apothecary or physician and upon which the 
label signed by the apothecary or physician is affixed. The 
amount of the drug not to exceed that stated upon the 
label. 



i 7 6 PRACTICAL POLICE WORK 

Official Order Blanks 

A hospital, sanitarium or other institution in which persons 
are treated for disability or disease, or inebriety, or drug 
addiction, or a wholesale apothecary, physician, dentist, or 
veterinarian, may possess cocaine, or opium or its deriv- 
atives only after he has obtained it from the department 
of drug control, or upon a written order upon an official 
order blank to one authorized to sell it filled out in triplicate. 

The person given the order retains one copy for at least two 
years and sends the other two to the person to whom the 
order is given, who retains one for two years and forthwith 
upon filing the order, mails the other to the department. 

Preparations and Remedies 

A person may manufacture, sell, dispense, or possess prep- 
arations and remedies not otherwise prohibited by law which 
contain — if opium not more than two grains, if codeine not 
more than one grain, if morphine not more than one-fourth 
of a grain, or if heroin not more than one-eighth of a 
grain in one fluid or avoirdupois ounce; also liniments,, 
ointments and other preparations suitable for external 
use only, provided that such remedies or preparations are 
not sold, kept or manufactured for the purpose of evading 
the provisions of this article. 

Hypodermic Syringes Can Be Possessed Only 

By a dealer in surgical instruments, apothecary, physician, 
dentist or veterinarian or nurse attendant or interne of a 
hospital, sanitarium, or institution in which persons are 
treated for disability or disease, unless such possession is 
authorized by the certificate of a physician issued within 
the period of one year. 

Exemptions from Restrictions 

The provisions of this article restricting the possession of 
cocaine or opium or its derivatives, do not apply to com- 
mon carriers, warehousemen or their employees engaged in 
lawful transportation or storage of such drugs nor to pub- 
lic officers or employees while engaged in the performance- 



PRACTICAL POLICE WORK 177 

of their official duties, nor to temporary incidental posses- 
sion on the part of employees or agents of persons lawfully 
entitled to possession. 
Drug addicts are both clever and cunning. Such qualities are 
also possessed by the fiends who profit by the illegal sale of such 
drugs. 

To cope with them it is not sufficient for a policeman to know 
the drug law ; he should also know how to detect violators. 

Some of the Ways in Which Outlawed Drugs Are Obtained 

Tempted by the big profit that can be obtained through sell- 
ing these drugs to unscrupulous dealers, or to unfortunate habi- 
tues, seafaring men and others smuggle them into this country 
by ship or across the border from Canada, Mexico or nearby 
States, or they are stolen by employees of druggists, manufac- 
turers or dealers, or they are received from other States and 
countries by parcel post, mail and express. 

To Cover Up Illegal Sales 

Dealers falsify their books and records; hold out drugs from 
prescriptions or orders lawfully received; or 

Act in concert with unscrupulous doctors, dentists or veterina- 
rians, who give them prescriptions for fictitious persons. 

How Illicit Dealers and Habitues Dispose of Drugs 

In disposing of the drugs, the dealer, his agents or sub-agents, 
often co-operate and assign to themselves special territories 
throughout the city, sometimes employing carriers, so that if 
caught no evidence can be found on their persons. They often 
find it convenient to "plant" a package in some prearranged place, 
such as in a hallway, under a stove, in the roadway in an appar- 
ently discarded cigarette box thrown in the gutter close to the 
curb ; behind a loose brick in a wall, or in a furnished room, hired 
for that purpose. 

How Such Drugs Are Carried or Possessed by Habitues 

So many ingenious hiding places have been discovered that 
it is impracticable to enumerate all of them. Some of these 
places are: 



178 PRACTICAL POLICE WORK 

(a) Tied under beds to the bed springs. 

(b) In the sleeves of old coats hanging on the wall. 

(c) In portieres, water pipes, under carpets, in telephone 
boxes, corners of tables, secret panels of walls, heels of 
shoes, hat racks, hanging out of windows tied to clothes 
lines, in books and magazines, etc. 

(d) When carried on the person drugs have been found in the 
end of hat pins, in secret pockets in the clothing, in the 
hat band, in the watch case, match box, etc. 

How the Habitues May Be Recognized 

There are several methods used by "fiends" in taking drugs, 
principally : 

Sniffing. 

Hypodermic injections. 

Smoking. 

Taking through the mouth. 

Sniffers 

They can usually be recognized by a redness or swelling of 
the partition of the nostril, or by ulcerations thereon, or in the 
case of long continued use, the partition becomes perforated. 

Hypodermic Users 

The arms and legs of hypodermic users are usually covered 
with a rash from the needle pricks, or abscesses may be found. 

Smokers and Eaters 

They can usually be recognized by their dry, sallow skin and 
a peculiar glistening look in their eyes. 

Symptoms Presented by Drug Addicts 

Drug addicts when in need of the drug may often present the 
following symptoms : 

(a) Water running from nose and eyes. 

(b) Yawning and sneezing frequently. 

(c) Seemingly itching all over and constantly rubbing arms 
and legs. 

(d) Pupils dilated. 



PRACTICAL POLICE WORK 179 

If a policeman sees a person whom he believes to be an addict 
on the street, and presents such symptoms, he should keep 
him under observation and he will usually, in a short time, see 
him go walking rapidly to the dealer who is his source of supply. 
Trailing after him, the policeman should put himself in a posi- 
tion to see the drug and money passed by the addict and the 
dealer, arrest both before they have opportunity to place 
either the money or drug in their pockets, and hold both the 
money and drug as evidence, unless the sale be made by a licensed 
druggist in pursuance of a physician's prescription. 

When a detective has evidence that drugs have been illegally 
disposed of in a particular premise he should endeavor to find out 
how habitues identify themselves to the dealer when purchasing 
them and use like methods to get into the dealer's confidence 
and to gain entrance to the premises. After getting the necessary 
evidence he should arrest the dealer, search the premises for all 
evidence of illegal sales, seize all drugs found, also any evidence 
of illegal sales, such as sealing wax, seals, deck papers and the 
like, marking them as evidence. He should by question, estab- 
lish the ownership of the apartment and of drugs found therein, 
etc., for the purpose of connecting him with any evidence found. 

Drug addicts may be committed by Magistrates to institutions 
for their cure. Some addicts request policemen to arrest them so 
that they may be committed. It is lawful for a policeman to 
make such an arrest and he should charge the addict with 
vagrancy. 

A drug addict may apply to a local board of health for com- 
mitment to a hospital and, if the hospital consents, the addict 
may be received on a commitment by the local board of health, 
as if the commitment were made by a Magistrate. A local board 
of health may also prescribe for and furnish drugs to addicts 
pending treatment. 

Procedure in Obtaining Evidence Against Registered Dealers 

Every person licensed to deal in opium, cocaine or its deriva- 
tives must file with the Department of Narcotic Drug Control as 
often as required a detailed statement showing the amount of 
drugs on hand on date of such report. No person may keep, sell 
or dispense any such drugs unless licensed by such department. 
All records and reports or copies thereof required to be kept by 
any person handling drugs under the provisions of this chapter 
must be kept for two years before being destroyed. 



180 PRACTICAL POLICE WORK 

When a doctor, druggist, manufacturer, or registered dealer 
is suspected of illegal sales of narcotics, the policeman should 
visit the premises, accompanied, if practicable, by a chemist, and 

(a) Establish ownership of party in charge. 
Registration required by law. 
Whether licensed in the State. 

(b) Examine records of purchases. 
Sales or other dispositions. 

Records of amount on hand on date of last report pre- 
ceding visit. 

(c) Tabulate purchases from date of last report preceding 
visit. 

Quantity disposed of in the same time and 

Amount on hand at date of visit. 
If any discrepancies be discovered between the records of the 
amount of such narcotic drugs on hand the person registered may 
ibe arrested and the records held as evidence. Drugs found on 
the premises, in excess of the amount allowed by law, should be 
seized and marked as evidence. 

Definitions 

I. Anesthetic: An agent that deadens sensibility. 
2. Cannabis indica : A narcotic principally extracted from 
hemp. 

3. Chloral : A narcotic liquid ; obtained at first by the 
action of chlorine upon alcohol. 

4. Chloroform : A volatile fluid ; used in surgery to induce 
insensibility. 

5. Coca (leaves): A narcotic; the dried leaf of a plant 
found in Peru. 

6. Cocaine : A drug derived from the coca leaf. 

7. Coedine : An alkaloid obtained from opium. 

8. Ether : A liquid produced by the distillation of alcohol 
with sulphuric acid. 

9. Heroin : A drug derived from opium. 
to. Laudanum : A drug derived from opium. 

11. Morphine: A vegetable alkaloid; extracted from opium. 

12. Narcotics: A medicine which relieves pain, produces 
sleep and in excess even death. 

13. Opium: The dried juice of the capsules of the white 
poppy, a stimulant, narcotic poison, used in medicine 



PRACTICAL POLICE WORK 181 

to soothe pain and inflammation; smoked as an in- 
toxicant. 

GENERAL LAWS RELATING TO DRUGS, DOCTORS 
AND VETERINARY SURGEONS 

Careless Distribution of Medicines, Drugs and Chemicals 

Any person, firm or corporation who distributes, or causes to 
be distributed, any free or trial samples of any medicine, drug, 
chemical or chemical compound, by leaving the same exposed 
upon the ground, sidewalk, porch, doorway, in letter boxes, or in 
any other manner, that children may become possessed of 
is guilty of a misdemeanor, punishable by a fine not ex- 
ceeding twenty-five dollars for each offense; but this section 
shall not apply to the direct delivery of any such article to an 
adult. 

The Sanitary Code prohibits the sale or giving away of opium, 
morphine, chloral or cannabis indica unless upon the prescription 
of a doctor, dentist or veterinarian, unless when used for external 
applications. So far as chloral and cannibis indica are concerned 
it supplements the State law. 

Persons found on premises where opium is smoked could be 
arrested and punished under section 1533 of the Penal Law, if 
there to smoke ; so could the occupants. Those who were actually 
smoking or had the drug in their possession could be arrested 
under the Narcotics Law. Persons innocently on the premises 
could not be punished. 

Possession of stupor-producing drugs with intent to adminis- 
ter them unlawfully is a felony, and furtive posses'sion is presump- 
tive evidence of intent. This would include chloral, morphine, 
laudanum, heroin, opium, cocaine, coedine as narcotics and chlo- 
roform and ether as anesthetics. To prove crime it must be 
shown that the possessor was not a physician, that the narcotics 
were stupor-producing and that he had the intent to administer 
them. 

Public Nuisance 

A public nuisance means that the public is injured or annoyed. 
It does not mean the injury or annoyance of an individual. The 
public may mean any considerable number of persons. It take- 



i82 PRACTICAL POLICE WORK 

at least three to be any considerable number. The public can alsa 
mean the general public without defining any particular individu- 
als belonging to it. 

A public nuisance is defined as a crime against the order and 
economy of the State. Order means according to prescribed ar- 
rangement; economy means without waste. A public nuisance,, 
"therefore, disorganizes and wastes. 

A public nuisance means an unlawful act or omission. The 
same act or omission if occurring under circumstances not un- 
lawful would not be a public nuisance. 

The thing affected by a public nuisance is the health, comfort, 
safety or repose of a considerable number. The way in which 
they are affected is by being annoyed, injured or endangered. 
The general public can be offended by indecency flaunted gener- 
ally. 

The general public can be affected when a public passageway 
is obstructed. The public passageway may be a lake, river, bay, 
stream, canal basin dredged at public expense or a street, park, 
square or highway. The general public can be affected by an 
unsafe condition. The condition must render a considerable 
number insecure in life or the use of property. 

When a crank is annoyed by a condition, the condition is not 
necessarily a public nuisance. Even a large number of persons 
may be annoyed, as by a crematory without its being a public 
nuisance if its maintenance is not unlawful. 
Examples : 

Brown maintains a building for the purpose of committting 

and performing unlawful abortions therein. 
Brown keeps a house of prostitution. 

Brown keeps a place of public resort, and permits persons 

therein to use indecent language and to commit acts of 

indecency. 

Brown, a grocer, places skids from the stoop of his store 

across the sidewalk to a wooden horse, over which he 

conveys goods from his store to trucks in the street, 

thereby obstructing the sidewalk several hours each day. 

Brown, who manages a factory, keeps a door locked, bolted 

or fastened therein, during working hours, in violation 

of the labor law. 

Brown keeps a place which persons frequent to smoke 

opium. 
Brown, who owns a building, has a sign displayed thereon, 



PRACTICAL POLICE WORK 183 

so placed and adjusted that it is likely to fall into the 
street and injure a person. 
Brown, as a practice, permits singing and dancing in his 
loft after 11 P. M. 

Disgraceful Practices 

Some games and exhibitions formerly permitted have been 
made misdemeanors. Such is the case with the game of throwing 
balls at a negro's head, or jumping from a great height into a 
body of water. So is an act holding a race up to contempt and 
ridicule. 

KIDNAPPING 

Kidnapping was originally the forcible carrying away of a 
child. It was extended to mean the carrying off of a man, woman 
or child from its own country and sending it into another. Be- 
tween it and abduction and false imprisonment there is no real 
difference that a policeman need care about. 

When an adult is concerned the intent is to imprison him 
within the State, send him out of the State, sell him as a slave or 
hold him to service against his will. When he is without the 
State and brought in and secreted in this State, kidnapping is 
committed. 

When a child is the subject the intent is to keep it or conceal 
it from its parents, to extort money for its return or to steal 
something from its person. 

The manner of kidnapping is by seizing, taking, inveigling, 
leading, enticing or by use of force or fraud. The crime is a very 
serious felony which may be punished by fifty years' imprison- 
ment. 

There is a crime classed as a misdemeanor which consists in 
assisting to escape, persons confined in an asylum or institution, 
enticing them away, offering them a home or offering to marry 
them. It is also a misdemeanor to harbor such escaped inmates 
without the consent of the board of managers. 

Examples : 

Brown procured the intoxication of White, a sailor, and 
without his consent, took him on board a ship and com- 
pelled him to serve thereon. 
Brown arrested White in this State and took him to an- 
other State without authority of law. 



184 PRACTICAL POLICE WORK 

Brown inveigled Jones from this State and sold his services 
without his consent to a person in another State. 

Brown enticed Jones's child to leave home and held such 
child for ransom. 

Brown induced a woman to leave this State on the promise 
of obtaining her employment in another State and placed 
her in a house of prostitution. (Also guilty of Compul- 
sory Prostitution.) 

Brown is divorced from his wife. She has been awarded 
the custody of their fifteen-year-old child by the court. 
Brown entices the child to leave his divorced wife and 
to reside with him. 

Children 

A child should be distinguished from a minor. A child is 
any person under sixteen years, a minor is a person under twenty- 
one. Childhood and minority indicate that they are below the 
age of full responsibility for their acts and that adults are 
charged with a greater sense of responsibility in their dealings 
with them. There are a few instances when the age of eighteen 
is made the dividing line. 

A child under seven cannot commit crime; a child under 
twelve is presumed to be incapable of committing crime unless the 
presumption be removed by evidence; a child under sixteen is 
entitled to have its mental, physical, moral and material' welfare 
looked after by others. When he offends except for homicide the 
offense is not called crime but juvenile delinquency. 

A person under eighteen may not be sold tobacco nor liquor 
for himself or others ; a person under twenty-one cannot make 
nor be bound by a contract. 

Inasmuch as children are not permitted under the law to do 
many things that adults may do, they are sometimes taken into 
custody for things that would not be offenses if committed by 
adults. Such children are mostly to be held under the charge 
of Improper Guardianship. There are a few exceptions. 

Procedure 

When a child is taken into custody for any cause its parents 
or the Children's Society or both should be notified. Either one is 
to take charge of the child, pending a hearing, depending upon 
the circumstances. The child is not to be confined in a cell. The 



PRACTICAL POLICE WORK 185 

recognizance of parents when parents are not at fault and they 
are responsible persons is accepted for the child's appearance. 
The hearing takes place in the Children's Court, a court specially 
organized to hear cases of juvenile delinquency and improper 
guardianship. 

For their proper mental, moral, physical and material develop- 
ment children are entitled to get an education and training, proper 
nourishment and clothing, proper housing and guardianship. 

How Endangered 

A child may be demoralized through amusements; through 
the commercial transactions it engages in ; through its association ; 
through its employment; through the places it is allowed to fre- 
quent. Generally speaking, a child is entitled to receive schooling 
until it is sixteen. It is permitted to leave when it has obtained 
a certificate of certain proficiency, such as graduation from a 
grammar school or has reached the seventh grade studies before 
sixteen. 

Amusement Places Restricted to Children 

The amusement places forbidden to children under penalty to 
the person permitting them to enter and stay are public dance 
halls, public bowling alleys, concert halls, theatres, moving pic- 
ture places, public pool and billiard rooms and public skating 
rinks. To such places, however, the child may go if accompanied 
/ by a parent or by one who acts as guardian. He is not to remain 
in a barroom under any conditions nor to bowl nor play pool in 
a public place even with his parent. Drinking or remaining in a 
"barroom is forbidden to a person until he has reached the age of 
eighteen. 

Since the reason for restricting the use of amusement places 
to children is on account of the danger to their morals, it follows 
that amusements under the auspices of a church or welfare so- 
ciety, are not in any manner subject to the ordinary restrictions. 

A Child's Business Restricted 

The commercial transactions which adults may not engage in 
with children are the buying and selling of intoxicating liquors, 
the selling of tobacco to a child ; the selling to it of firearms or 
dangerous toy or air guns ; buying from it by a pawnbroker or 



186 PRACTICAL POLICE WORK 

giving it a loan on articles ; buying from it by a junk or second- 
hand dealer. 

Children's Associations 

Demoralizing associations or conditions are forbidden to chil- 
dren, as well as conduct that is demoralizing. These are living 
in a state of destitution, being exposed, neglected ; being without 
home or responsible person to care for them ; being disorderly or 
ungovernable, frequenting the company of thieves or vicious per- 
sons, begging, picking rags, cigar butts or the like and practising 
truancy. 

Employment 

The kind of employment that is either injurious or demoral- 
izing and therefore unlawful is that of gymnast, rope walker, 
rider, rag picker, contortionist, beggar, acrobat, wrestler or ped- 
dler. 

The kind of employment injurious to the health or physical 
development of the child is working in a factory, a hotel, restau- 
rant, mercantile establishment, business or telegraph office or as 
a messenger or distributer of merchandise, under fourteen, or 
between fourteen and sixteen unless working papers from the 
Health Department has been secured in accordance with the pro- 
visions of the Child Labor Law. 

Employment in theatrical or moving picture work is denied 
to children unless with the written consent of the Mayor. Again 
this does not apply to church theatricals or those under an uplift 
society. 

Occupation that would be dangerous to life and limb is for- 
bidden to children such as working at dangerous machinery 
where they might get disabled. The Labor Department specifies 
the kind of work in factories that is dangerous to children. Em- 
ployment before 8 A. M. and after 5 P. M. and in messenger work 
after 6 P. M. is forbidden. 

Boys under twelve and girls under sixteen are not allowed to 
sell newspapers. Between 12 and 14 boys may sell with permis- 
sion from the Board of Education if they 'are attending school, 
but not after 8 P. M. nor before 6 A. M. Boys from 14 to 16 
may deliver papers over prescribed routes between 3 and 6:30 
P. M. and 5 130 and 8 A. M., and boys 12 to 14 from 3 to 5 130 
P. M. under a permit. 



PRACTICAL POLICE WORK 187 

Deserting Children 

The parent or guardian of a child under fourteen who deserts 
it in any place with the intention to wholly abandon it is liable to 
imprisonment for seven years. 

The parent or guardian who abandons a destitute child under 
sixteen and fails to provide for it is guilty of a felony. There 
must have been a leaving and a failure to provide to constitute 
this crime. To omit to properly provide for the child without 
leaving it is a misdemeanor. A permit to keep a child's boarding 
house or a maternity hospital must be secured from the Board 
of Health. 

Children should never be arrested when the condition can 
otherwise be corrected. 

MALICIOUS MISCHIEF 

Malicious mischief includes both an act of mischief and a 
malicious intent. Since malice is a necessary part of the crime 
it must be shown on the trial to secure a conviction. 

Malicious mischief is either a felony or misdemeanor accord- 
ing to the amount of damage done, the possibilities of injury aris- 
ing from the act and the character of the property injured. 

It is a felony to show a false light before a train, or to alter, 
extinguish, or remove a light or signal because of the possibilities 
of injury to life that might result from such an act. 

A person who wilfully and unlawfully does any of the follow- 
ing is guilty of a felony for similar reasons. 

1. Damages a building by explosives. 

2. Sets fire to growing grain, grass or timber of another. 

3. Sets fire to forest lands owned by the State, or another. 

4. Injures or removes a buoy or beacon from State waters. 

5. Injures or removes a monument for designating the 
boundary of city, State, village, farm or lot of land. 

6. Injures or taps a line of telegraph, telephone or cable. 

7. Damages or destroys a public bridge or highway. 

8. Damages or destroys a public gas or water main. 

9. Damages or destroys a public sewer or drain. 

10. Damages or destroys with intent to destroy and render 
useless, tools or machinery of another, used in trade or 
husbandry. 

11. Injures or damages a house of worship or any part 
thereof, or any article therein for use in religious services. 



i88 PRACTICAL POLICE WORK 

12. Injuries or destroys any book or other article on exhi- 
bition in a public museum or library for the information 
or instruction of the public. 

13. Injures or damages the real or personal property of 
another of the value of more than $250.00. 

14. Injures or damages the returns of a public election if 
appointed to deliver them, or takes them away from a 
messenger with intent to prevent their delivery, or 
injures, destroys or mutilates them in any other manner. 

15. Wilfully displaces, loosens, removes, injures or destroys 
any rait, sleeper, switch, bridge, viaduct, culvert or em- 
bankment connected with any railway ; or attempts to 
wreck or destroy by any means any car or train while it 
is standing or moving on a railroad track; or any ob- 
struction on a railroad track; or, 

16. Displaces, removes, cuts, injures or destroys any wire, 
insulator, pole, dynamo, motor, locomotive, or other 
motor power of a railroad operated by electricity; or, 

17. Throws a missile or discharges a firearm at a train, car,. 
vehicle or locomotive, which is on a railroad track. 

The acts of malicious mischief which are misdemeanors in- 
volve less property and less possibility of damage. A person is 
guilty of misdemeanor who 

1. Injures or destroys the real or personal property of an- 
other to the extent of $250.00 or less. 

2. Displaces, injures or removes a milestone, danger sign,, 
or signal sign, guidepost or sign, or direction thereon. 

3. Paints, prints, or affixes a commercial advertisement on 
any object which is the property of another, without 
obtaining written consent, or places such advertisement 
on a tree, fence, stump, pole, mileboard, stone, signal,, 
guide sign, guidepost within the limits of a public high- 
way. 

4. Sends a false alarm of fire. 

5. Opens a fire hydrant, except to extinguish a fire, and then- 
only when authorized. 

6. Injures a fire hydrant. 

7. Interferes with a fire alarm telegraph system. 

8. Enters an orchard or fruit garden with the intent to 
steal fruit. 

9. Cuts down a tree standing on the lands of another or on 
the property of the State or city (also covered by Park 
Ordinance). 



PRACTICAL POLICE WORK 189 

10. Intrudes or places a shanty or other building on any lot 5 
of another without his consent. - 

11. Places a shanty or other erection within the boundaries 
of a highway or public street (also covered by City 
Ordinance). 

12. Drives along the highway a wild and dangerous animal 
or a vehicle or engine propelled by steam, except on 
tracks, unless such animal or vehicle is preceded by a 
person one-eighth of a irrile ahead to warn persons. 
(Relative to animals is covered by Sanitary Code.) 

13. Trespasses on any State rifle range. 

14. Cuts, damages or destroys the anchorage or moorings of 
a vessel. 

15. Places any advertisement on the U. S. Flag or ensign, or 
the Flag or ensign of the State. 

16. Sells merchandise on which the U. S. Flag or ensign or 
State flag or ensign is used as an advertisement. 

(Note — This subdivision does not apply to acts per- 
mitted by the Federal laws or to the placing of such 
flags, when not intended as an advertisement, on a di- 
ploma, certificate of appointment to office, ornamental 
picture, stationery used in private correspondence, arti- 
cle of jewelry, or newspaper, or periodical.) 

17. Publicly multilates, destroys, or casts contempt on the 
U. S. Flag, or State Flag, either by words or acts. 

18. Connects with gas mains or electric wires without au- 
thority. 

19. Refuses to deliver gas meter to corporation, company or 
person owning it on demand, or selling it. 

20. Turns on steam to heat building when lawfully shut off 
by person controlling it. 

21. Throws or causes to be thrown in a public highway, any 
glass, nails, tacks, thorns or other substance that might 
injure automobile tires or horses' feet. 

22. Kills, wounds or traps any bird or game within a public 
burying ground, pleasure ground or park, or takes its 
eggs from there. 

In deciding whether or not a case is one of malicious mischief, 
the policeman should ask himself: 

1. Was the act done intentionally? 

2. Did the person who did the act have a lawful right to 
do so? 



190 PRACTICAL POLICE WORK 

RAILWAY LAWS 

A person is guilty of misdemeanor : 

1. Who rides on any engine or any passenger car, baggage 
car, express car. freight car, wood car or any other car 
of any railroad company, without authority or permis- 
sion of the proper officers of the company or of the person 
in charge of said car or engine ; or, with intention of not 
paying therefor. 

2. Who gets on any car or train while in motion, for the 
purpose of obtaining transportation thereon as a passenger. 

3. Who wilfully obstructs, hinders or delays the passage of 
any car lawfully running upon any steam, or horse, or 
street railway. 

4. Who, not being connected with or employed upon the 
railroad, walks upon or along any railroad track or 
tracks or right of way, except where and when necessary 
to cross the track or tracks or right of way where they 
are laid across or along the streets or highways. 

SABBATH LAWS 

Day of Rest 

Sunday, the Christian Sabbath, is observed as a day of rest 
and all useful works are forbidden on that day. The general ex- 
ception consists of works of necessity and charity. Some of the 
exceptions, however illustrate convenience rather than necessity 
as in the case of barber shops which keep open till 1 P. M. 

Sale and barter are prohibited, except that articles of food 
can be sold, served or delivered before 10 A. M., but uncooked 
flesh meats are not to be sold or delivered during the day; 
meals to be eaten on the premises can be sold at all times and 
caterers can do likewise ; cooked and prepared foods can be sold 
and delivered by delicatessen dealers before 10 A. M. and be- 
tween 4 and 7:30 P. M., and tobacco, milk, eggs, ice, soda water, 
fruit, flowers, confectionery, newspapers, gas, oil, tires, medical 
and surgical instruments can be sold at all times, but not in a 
place where liquor is sold. 

Parades and processions are forbidden except: Funeral pro- 
cessions, religious processions to and from a place of worship; 
Naval and Military and Police and Fire Department movements ; 
partiotic processions on the Sunday before Memorial Day. 



PRACTICAL POLICE WORK i 9 r 

Music at parades is forbidden except at military funerals or 
those of a U. S. soldier, sailor or marine, or member of a veteran 
corps, regular or militia; member of a secret fraternal society,, 
or of an association of employees of the National, State or City 
Government. It is also permitted at patriotic processions on the 
Sunday before Decoration Day. 

Theatrical performances are prohibited as well as exhibitions 
and acrobatic performances, except music, singing, lectures, reci- 
tations and addresses which are educational or instructive. Mov- 
ing pictures are permitted under the laws of 1919. 

Sports on Sunday are generally prohibited including hunting, 
shooting, racing and the professional sports to which admission 
is charged. The Legislature of 1919, however, gave to the local 
municipality or other political portion of the State, the right to 
grant or withhold permission to play baseball on Sunday even 
with the charge of an admission fee. Such localities can also 
determine the hours within which the game may be played, due 
regard to be paid to non-interference with repose or religious 
worship. 

The two things to which the people above all else are entitled 
is the right to enjoy repose and to engage in worship without 
being interfered with. For that reason it is permissible to play 
certain games such as tennis in places not near a church when it 
would not be permissble to play in the vicinity of a church at 
or about the time persons were worshipping. 

Repose means general repose and for that reason the repose 
of three or more persons would constitute a reason for stopping 
a game which would not be stopped if only one person objected. 
In this instance, as in the case of a public nuisance it is not the 
repose of a crank that constitutes the offense, but that of a con- 
siderable number of persons. 

Civil processes cannot be served on Sundays. Criminal pro- 
cesses in serious cases, in cases of breaches of the peace or where 
a breach is apprehended or in minor cases where th^re is a di- 
rection from the court can be served. 

Election Crimes 

The police are to protect electors on election and primary 
day and assist the election officers to preserve the peace and en- 
force the law. 

A vast number of crimes can be committed in connection with 



192 PRACTICAL POLICE WORK 

the holding of elections. These crimes are committed by two 
classes : 

i. The electors. 

2. The election officers and public officers. 

When the act is one which directly tends to deprive a person 
of a vote who has the right to vote or let a person vote who has 
not, the offense is generally a felony when committed by an elec- 
tion officer. When the act is one which does not directly affect 
the result but is violative of a regulation for the orderly and 
honest conduct of the election, it is a misdemaenor when com- 
mitted by the same officers, as a general rule. 

When committed by an elector the crime to be a felony must 
be an act directly tending towards the giving of a fraudulent vote 
or dircetly affecting the result. Indirect and incidental acts that 
merely interfere but do not directly offset a result are misde- 
meanors. 

At primary elections acts are misdemeanors which at general 
elections are felonies. The taking of a false oath is perjury. 

One is guilty of a felony who 
i. Registers, or attempts to register, as an elector in more 
than one place. 

2. Registers, or attempts to register as an elector, knowing 
■ that he will not be a qualified voter in the district on 

the day of election. 

3. Registers, or attempts to rogister as an elector under any 
other name than his own. 

4. Knowingly gives a false residence when registering. 

5. Knowingly permits, aids, abets, procures, commands, or 
advises another to comrnit any of the foregoing acts. 

6. Wilfully suppresses, alters, destroys, or mutilates any 
signed challenge affidavits or official copies thereof. 

7. Being a clerk, or member of the Registry Board, wilfully 
refuses, or neglects to perform any duty in connection 
with the registration imposed by law upon him; or who 
commits any fraud in the performances of his duties. 

8. Being an Inspector, or other person, wilfully incorpo- 
rates, or causes to be incorporated, any false statement 
in any challenge affidavit. 

9. Takes a false oath before the Board of Election 
Inspectors. 

10. Wilfully alters, mutilates, destroys or removes from the 
place of registry the public copy of registration. 



PRACTICAL POLICE WORK 193 

A person is guilty of a felony who : 

1. Being a public officer, omits, refuses, or neglects to per- 
form an act required of him by the Election Law, or 
refuses to permit the doing of any act authorized there- 
by (unless otherwise provided by law). 

2. Forges, or falsely makes the official endorsement of any 
ballot. 

3. Having charge of official ballots, destroys, conceals, or 
suppresses them, except provided by law. 

.4. Knowingly votes, or attempts to vote, when not qualified. 

5. Procures, aids, assists, counsels, or advises a person to 
vote, who is not qualified. 

6. Votes, or attempts to vote, more than once at the same 
election. 

7. Votes, or attempts to vote, in any other name than his 
own. 

8. Votes, or attempts to vote, from a place where he does 
not make his place of stay. 

9. Being an inhabitant of another State, or county, votes, or 
attempts to vote, in this State. 

10. Being an Inspector, or Poll Clerk, intentionally makes, 
or attempts to make, a false canvass of the ballots, or 
any false statement of the results of canvass, or attempts 
to induce an Election Inspector, or Poll Clerk, to do so. 

11. Pays any money, or gives any other valuable considera- 
tion to a voter, either directly, or indirectly, or promises 
to do so, for the purpose of influencing his vote, or to 
cause him to refrain from voting. 

12. Being a voter, receives or agrees to receive, any money, 
or other valuable consideration, to influence his vote, 
or to refrain from voting. 

13. Wilfully and unlawfully mutilates or destroys election 
returns. 

14. Being an Election Inspector, refuses to permit watchers 
voters, or challengers to exercise their rights as such. 

A person is guilty of a misdemeanor who : 

1. Refuses to permit his employees entitled to vote, the 
privilege of attending the polling place to do so. 

2. Neglects, or refuses, to deliver official ballots to Inspec- 
tors of election, being charged with the duty of doing so. 

3. Being an election officer, or watcher, reveals to another 
person the name of a candidate for which a voter has 
voted, or unfolds a ballot before the closing of the polls, 



194 PRACTICAL POLICE WORK 

or places a mark on a ballot by which it can be identified. 

4. Electioneers on election day, in any public manner within 
one hundred (100) feet of the polls, or in a building, 
or room, within one hundred (100) feet thereof. 

5. Unlawfully goes within guard rail, or being unlawfully 
there, refuses to leave after being ordered to do so by 
an Election Inspector, or other proper authority. 

6. Unlawfully removes an official ballot from polling place 
before closing of polls. 

7. Displays any political banner, poster, or placard, in, or 
upon any polling booth, except those provided by law. 

5. Being an Inspector of Election, knowingly and wilfully 
permits a person to vote not entitled to do so. 

9. Wilfully and unlawfully enters a polling booth with a 
voter, or remains in a polling booth with a voter, or 
opens the door of a polling booth while a voter is there. 

10. Being a voter, knowingly permits any person to be in 
voting booth with him, except as provided by law. 

11. Having lawfully entered polling booth with voter, re- 
veals how he voted, or tries to induce him to vote any 
particular ballot. 

12. Shows any ballot after it has been voted, so as to reveal 
contents, or requests another person to do so, except 
as provided by law. 

13. Places any mark on his ballot for the purpose of having 
it identified as his. 

14. Receives an official ballot from any person other than the 
Ballot Clerk. 

15. Not being a Ballot Clerk, delivers an official ballot to a 
voter. 

16. Not being an Inspector of Election, receives an official 
ballot from a voter. 

17. Wilfully disobeys any lawful commands of the Election 
Inspectors. 

18. Being an employer, pays his employee in a pay envelope 
on which there is a political motto, containing threats, 
calculated to influence the vote of such employee. 

19. Being an officer, or an employee of the State, uses his 
official influence to compel other employees to pay 
political assessments. 

20. Wilfully defaces or injures a voting booth, or compart- 
ment, or removes any supplies therefrom. 



PRACTICAL POLICE WORK 195 

21. Before closing of the polls, wilfully defaces, or destroys 
lists of candidates to be voted for, which are posted in 
accordance with law. 

22. Before the closing of the polls, wilfully removes any of 
the official cards containing instruction for voters. 

NOTE. — A person who commits any of the above misde- 
meanors as a second offense is guilty of a felony. 

It is a misdemeanor for a Police Commissioner, or a member 
of the Police Force : 

1. To use his official power or authority in aid of or against 
any political party or association, or to threaten to use 
such power or authority. 

2. To reward or punish any citizen on account of his politi- 
cal affiliation, or to threaten to do so. 

3. To retire, promote, transfer or appoint, reward, or punish 
a member of the Police Force, on account of his political 
opinion, or actions. 

4. To contribute any money to, or solicit the contribution 
of any money for any political club, or associations, or 
for any political fund. 

5. To join, or become a member of any political club, or 
association. 

#r 

A person who is the owner of premises contracted for or 
used as a polling place shall not make any political contribution 
to any political party (violation a misdemeanor). 

A policeman, an election officer or a private person who re- 
fuses to assist the Superintendent of Elections or his deputies 
in the enforcement of the law when called upon is guilty of a 
felony. 

An Inspector of Election can authorize in writing the arrest 
of one who is disorderly or creating a disturbance. Before ar- 
resting him the policeman should give him the opportunity to vote. 

The qualifications of voters is a matter investigated by the 
police. 

1. Must be a citizen and twenty-one (21) years of age. 

2. Must have been an inhabitant of the State for at least 
one year prior to election. 

.3. Must be a resident of the county for four (4) months 
prior to election. 

4. Must be a resident of the Election District thirty (30) 
days prior to election day. 

5. Must have registered. 



tq6 ^ PRACTICAL POLICE WORK 

6 if a naturalized citizen, must have been naturalized ninety 
(90) days prior to time of election, at least, or if a 
citizen by marriage must have been an inhabitant of 
the U. S. for at least five years prior to such day. 

PAWNBROKERS 

Three kinds of business regulated by law on account of the 
facilities they afford for wrong doing are pawnbrokers, second- 
hand dealing and junk dealing. Pawnbroking is the lending or 
advancing of money on personal property pledged as security. 
Three kinds of pawnbroking are authorized by law. 

1. Loaning money, on deposit or pledge of tangible personal 
property. 

2. Buying personal property on condition of selling it back 
at a stipulated price. 

3. Loaning money on furniture stored in a storage ware- 
house conducted by the lender. 

Pawnbrokers are licensed by the License Department and 
file a bond of $10,000. It is a misdemeanor to conduct the busi- 
ness or charge interest above the legal rate without a license. 

Books containing a description of the goods pledged, amount 
loaned, time, rate of interest and name and address of person 
pawning must be kept by the pawnbroker. At the time of pledg- 
ing there must be given to the pawner a memorandum or note 
containing the substance of the entry. 

The holder of such memorandum is presumed to be the 
person entitled to redeem and the pawnbroker must deliver such 
article to the person presenting it, on payment of principal and 
interest. 

Should the ticket be lost or mislaid, the pawner should at 
once apply to the pawnbroker, to permit him to examine the 
books, and on finding the entry for said ticket, note or memoran- 
dum, and upon giving to the pawnbroker an exact description of 
the article pawned, the pawnbroker will issue a second, or stop 
ticket. 

In case the pawner neglect to so apply and examine the books 
and receive such memorandum, the pawnbroker will be bound to 
deliver the pledge to any person producing such ticket for the 
redemption thereof. 

This article is not to be construed as in any manner limiting, 
or affecting the pawnbroker's common law liability in cases where 



PRACTICAL POLICE WORK 197 

goods are stolen, or other legal defects of title exist in the pledger. 

Examination of Pawnbrokers Books 

Section 317, of the Greater New York Charter, in effect states 
that : 

The Police Commissioner, his deputies, Inspectors and Cap- 
tains of Police and persons acting by their orders have power to 
examine the books of any pawnbroker, his clerk or clerks, 
if they deem it necessary, in search of stolen property, and any 
person having in his possession a pawnbroker's ticket, when ac- 
companied by a policeman or by an order from any of the fore- 
going officials will be allowed to examine the property purport- 
ing to be pawned by such ticket. No property is to be removed 
from the possession of any pawnbroker without the process 
required by the existing laws of this State, or the laws and ordi- 
nances of the city regulating pawnbrokers. A refusal or neglect 
to comply with the provisions of this section on the part of any 
pawnbroker, his clerk or clerks will be deemed a misdemeanor. 

The interest a pawnbroker may charge and no more is three 
percentum per month, or any fraction of a month, for the first 
six months, and two percentum per month for each month suc- 
ceeding, upon^any loan not exceeding one hundred dollars ; two 
per centum per month for the first six months and one per centum 
per month for each succeeding month, on any loan exceeding the 
sum of one hundred dollars. 

A pawnbroker cannot buy second-hand material nor engage 
in any second-hand business. He must keep the goods pledged 
for a year, sell by public auction by a licensed auctioneer and 
turn over the excess realized from the sale to the original owner. 
The time of sale has to be advertised in at least two daily papers 
of the city for six days designated by the Commissioner of 
Licenses and containing the terms of the sale. 

The Commissioner of License can fine a pawnbroker, or sus- 
pend his license or recommend its revocation to the Mayor. The 
pawnbroker is required to report to the Police Commissioner in- 
formation on blanks whenever demanded containing a descrip- 
tion of all goods, articles, or things pawned or pledged, in the 
course of business during the days specified in such notice, stat- 
ing the number of the pawn tickets issued therefor, the amounts 
loaned thereon, and such identifying marks as may be on the 
goorls pawned. If such notice from the Police Commissioner so 



ig8 PRACTICAL POLICE WORK 

prescribes, such pawnbroker must from that time and until he 
is notified to discontinue keep and furnish on blank forms a gen- 
eral description of every person depositing such pledges, sex, 
color and apparent age. 

It is a misdemeanor for a pawnbroker to refuse or omit to 
exhibit on demand stolen goods to the owner thereof or his 
agent during business hours. To sell before the time to redeem 
has expired, to refuse to disclose the name of a purchaser or the 
price paid for an article is a misdemeanor. The hours during 
which he may conduct business are from 7 A. M. till 6 P. M., 
week days, except Saturdays when he can keep open till midnight. 

When a uniformed policeman discovers an article in a pawn- 
shop alleged to be lost or stolen, he should note the pledge num- 
ber and place a stop on it. He should then report the case to the 
detective division, through the desk officer. The detective as- 
signed to the case examines such pledge and finding it to be, or 
having reasonable grounds to believe it to be lost or stolen, places 
what is known as a "STOP TICKET" on it. 

This ticket is filled out as per the captions, and signed by the 
pawnbroker or dealer. The stub is left with the pawnbroker, or 
dealer, and the ticket, with the signature of the broker, or dealer, 
is returned to the Lost Property Bureau of the Police Depart- 
ment. 

When a stop ticket is to be removed, a ticket, known as 
"Removal of Stop" is filled out and presented to the broker, or 
dealer, who returns the stub left with him at the time the stop 
was placed on the article. 

A Stop is placed upon an article for the purpose of preventing 
the pawnbroker from disposing of such article, until the detective 
is satisfied that the property will be returned to its rightful 
owner. 

Pawnbrokers are required to send to the Bureau of Lost 
Property daily before 11 A. M., a list of articles as are specified 
by such Bureau received by them in pledge or pawn. 

When a watch is pawned, a card is made out by the pawn- 
broker and forwarded to the Lost Property Bureau. 

MOTOR VEHICLE LAW 

All vehicles propelled by other than muscular power are 
MOTOR VEHICLES within the meaning of the Motor Vehicle 
Law regulating them except the following: 

1. Police patrol wagons. 



PRACTICAL POLICE WORK 199 

2. Public or private ambulances for sick or injured persons. 

3. Fire wagons and engines. 

4. Traction engines. 

5. Road rollers. 

6. Vehicles which run only on rails or tracks. 

7. Vehicles owned by the U. S. Army or Navy. 

8. Motor bicycles or motorcycles. 

9. United States mail wagons. 

As the above named vehicles are not motor vehicles within 
the meaning of the law, they are not required to be registered. 

Some such vehicles display a registration number, as it makes 
their identification easy, and as any vehicle used for State or City 
purposes can get registered free of charge, the registration num- 
bers are put on as a matter of convenience. 

In the case of exempted ambulances, they must be employed 
only as such, and not in any commercial capacity. In the case 
of private ambulances, they must carry a distinguishing sign, 
otherwise the policeman could issue a summons. The offender 
would not be convicted could he show that the vehicle was only 
used as an ambulance. 

Police Department. — Motor driven vehicles, other than 
patrol wagons, are motor vehicles within the meaning of the 
law. They have to display a registration number (obtained 
free of charge). 

If Driven by a Civilian. — As a substantial part of his em- 
ployment, he must be licensed as a chauffeur. 

Classes Licensed. 

Three classes of persons are licensed to run motor vehicles. 
They are those employed directly to drive a vehicle; those who 
drive for hire and those who, employed in another capacity, drive 
vehicles as a substantial part of their employment. Private 
chauffeurs, taxi-cab drivers and automobile salesmen would be 
examples of each in the order named. 

A chauffeur must be licensed, wear an authorized badge and 
should carry his licensed card with his photograph attached with 
him while driving. To operate without a badge, or a fictitious 
one, or to lend his license card or badge to another renders him 
liable to be summoned to court. 

Operators must be licensed if they operate for ten days in a 
county wholly within a city. They must be over 18 to get a 

Note: Unlicensed operators, residents of the city, may operate therein, only with 
a permit and then not more than 30 days. 



200 PRACTICAL POLICE WORK 

license, not working as, an employee or for hire; carry their 
license card, not use another's nor permit his own card to be 
used by another and renew it annually. 

Owners and operators from other States or a foreign country 
need not be licensed but must wear the insignia of authority of 
their own State or country. They get the same privileges that 
New Yorkers receive in the States from which they came. 

Manufacturers or dealers register with the Secretary of State 
every vehicle they intend to operate, get four duplicate plates 
which are not to be used for hire or pleasure. The purchaser 
operates on the strength of one of these plates until he gets his 
own, not longer than five days. His own must be applied for 
within twenty-four hours after getting the vehicle. When he gets 
his own he returns the dealer's. When he sells his machine 
the purchaser can operate on the seller's license for ten days. A 
person to whom a machine is leased or loaned can operate on 
the owner's license for thirty days. A person under eighteen is 
not allowed to operate a car unless the owner or a licensed chauf- 
feur is in the car. 

Fifteen miles an hour within the city and thirty miles in the 
country is the rate of speed permitted with the following excep- 
tions : 

School streets between 8 A. M. and 4 P. M. on school days, 
10 miles. 

Streets restricted by Police Commissioner, 8 miles. 

Approaching bridges, 10 miles. 

Crossing Brooklyn Bridge, 8 miles. m 

Crossing any other bridge, 15 miles. 

Turning corners, 4 miles. 

In outlying and sparsely settled sections of City, 25 miles. 

Crossing from garage or other building across the sidewalk, 
not faster than a horse walks. 

A rate of speed between 15 and 20 miles an hour in ordinary 
sections of the city is prima facie evidence of speeding. 

A policeman may issue a summons, but the defendant would 
not be convicted if he could show that such speeding did not 
endanger any person. 

Over 20 miles per hour — no such defense could be offered. 

If an owner is present in a vehicle when the chauffeur is 
speeding he is equally responsible and could be summoned. 

To judge the speed of vehicles in parts of the city where 20 
blocks constitute a mile, the vehicle should be timed from the 
center line of one block to the center line of the next and the 



. PRACTICAL POLICE WORK 201 

number of seconds it took divided into 180, which will give the 
rate of speed per hour. 

A careless or wreckless rate of speed cannot be maintained 
under any conditions. In a dense crowd two miles an hour 
might violate the speed laws. 

After sunset and before sunrise two white lights in front 
visible 300 feet and a red light in rear must be carried. The rear 
light is to shine white on the number plate which should be visible 
for fifty feet; two-ton motor trucks limited to 15 miles an hour, 
front lights visible 200 feet and rear light 100 feet away. 

It is a felony for the driver of a motor vehicle who has an 
accident or collision where persons or vehicles are damaged to 
leave the scene without identifying himself to the injured, to a 
policeman, the police station or the nearest judicial officer. To 
escape the felony it must be done at once, not as the result of 
learning that identity has been or is likely to be discovered. 

It is a misdemeanor to operate a motor vehicle while drunk, 
and a felony if a second offense. 

Sound signals to give warning must be carried on all motor 
cars. They are not to bfe used unnecessarily. 

Dense, heavy and continuous smoke from motor vehicles 
violates the ordinances. Inasmuch as this is sometimes difficult 
to remedy, policemen have to use care and judgment in enforce- 
ment. 

When a restive animal is met on the highway the motor ve- 
hicle must be' stopped on a signal and remain stopped till the 
animal passes. To leave a motor vehicle unattended on a ferry 
is a misdemeanor. The operator must be within easy access. 

To knowingly and unlawfully have a motor vehicle from 
which the manufacturer's serial number or other identifying mark 
has been removed is committing a misdemeanor. 

Stopping Motor Vehicles When Passing Restive Animals 

Drivers are required to stop when signalled to by the person 
in charge of restive animals, and required to remain standing; 
until the driver has an opportunity to get away. 

A person who violates any of the provisions of the Motor 
Vehicle Law is guilty of a misdemeanor — except leaving the 
scene of an accident, etc., which is a felony. 

Penal Law Violations Relative to Motor Vehicles 

Unlawfully taking or using a motor vehicle without the 



202 PRACTICAL POLICE WORK 

owner's consent is grand or petit larceny, according to the value 
of the vehicle. A prisoner charged with such violation should 
be taken to a magistrate's court. 

Motor Vehicles on Ferryboats 

A chauffeur or operator in charge of a motor vehicle who 
leaves it unattended at any time when it is being carried on 
any ferryboat operating in this State, or between this State and 
another State, and from or to a city of five hundred thousand 
inhabitants or over, is guilty of a misdemeanor. Within the 
meaning of this section, a motor vehicle is left unattended unless 
the chauffeur or operator in charge is on or immediately near 
such motor vehicle and at a place which affords easy and im- 
mediate access to the operating, guiding and braking appliances. 

Defacing Identification Mark on Motor Vehicles 

A person who knowingly buys, sells, receives, disposes of, 
conceals or knowingly has in his possession any motor vehicle, 
from which the manufacturer's serial number or any other dis- 
tinguishing number or identification mark has been removed, de- 
faced, covered, altered or destroyed for the purpose of conceal- 
ment or misrepresenting the identiy of the motor vehicle, is guilty 
of a misdemeanor. 



Motorcycle 

No person under 16 years of age can operate a motorcycle. 

Every owner of a motorcycle must: 

Register with the Secretary of State and display on such 
motorcycle the number plate in rear thereof; non-resident own- 
vers excepted. 

Comply with the speed regulations in the City of New York. 

Be provided with adequate brakes and signal devices. 

Show between sunset and sunrise a light or lights so placed 
as to be seen from the front, rear and each side, and of sufficient 
illuminating power to be visible at a distance of 100 feet 
(ordinance). 

Substance of the Motorcycle Law Relative to Lights 

From one-half hour after sunset until one-half hour before 



PRACTICAL POLICE WORK 203 

sunrise, motorcycles must : 

Display white lights in front visible at a distance of 200 
feet, with passenger; or if without such passenger, etc., 
one light. 

Display a light in rear to show red and illuminate the number 
plate rendering the numerals thereon visible at a distance 
of 50 feet. 

Operators of motorcycles injuring persons or damaging prop- 
erty must do any one of the following things : 
(a) Identify themselves to the person injured or in charge 
of the property damaged. 

(b) Identify themselves to a policeman in the vicinity. 

(c) Report'the fact to the nearest police station house. 

(d) Report the fact to the nearest judicial officer, or 
commit a felony. _ 

Animals 

Every living thing except a human being is an animal under 
the law. Animals are protected by law from abuse, and viola- 
tions of the law affecting them are misdemeanors in all cases 
except one. That is the poisoning of domestic horses, mules or 
cattle which is a felony. 

Man has been known to cause vicious animals to fight for his 
own gratification ; to torture or cause pain to animals for his own 
benefit, advantage or gratification; to deprive animals of food 
and drink through neglect; to treat them cruelly in using them; 
to keep them impounded without sustenance; to transport them 
for long distances without unloading; to run them in a way to 
cause injury; to leave them exposed when disabled, and finally to 
abandon them to die. All these things are misdemeanors under 
the law when the impounding is more than twelve and the. 
exposure more than three hours. 

Men have also been known to use animals in such a way as to 
jeopardize persons; to sell or expose animals with glanders and 
infectious diseases ; to sell the milk of cows housed in unhealthy 
places ; to sell the food and milk of cows diseased ; to drive un- 
controllable afeiimals on sidewalks; to suffer vicious dogs and 
diseased and dangerous domestic cattle to be at large ; to "doctor'* 
for sale horses and animals which are ready to die ; to sell horses 
at public auction which it would be cruel to work. These of- 
fenses are now misdemeanors. 



204 PRACTICAL POLICE WORK 

When horses, sheep, cattle or swine are held longer than 28 
consecutive hours without food or water in transportation, any 
person may enter without trespass, feed or water them and charge 
the expense to the owner. 

The sanitary code provides for the quick removal of dead or 
injured animals, the confinement of dogs suspected of rabies or 
of being bitten by other dogs, until examined by an inspector; 
the notification of the department in case an animal is suffering 
from a contagious disease, or a dog has bitten a person. 

A citizen cannot let a dog run unmuzzled at large ; dry in 
public, the bedding of animals ; place an untagged dead horse 
in the public street ; fill in land with dead animals ; drive a horse 
•on the sidewalk ; bring into the city animals which have been 
exposed to infectious diseases ; interfere with dead or sick ani- 
mals in the street without the consent of the police or health 
inspector ; remove animals which died from infectious disease 
without a permit or convey animals tied by the feet or bound 
down by the neck. 

In the City of New York a permit is required from the Board 
of Health to keep cows, or to keep pigeons, sheep, swine, goats, 
chickens, geese, ducks or fowls, except in the farming sections, 
or to keep dogs or other small animals for sale. 

A permit is required from the Police Commissioner to lead 
or drive cattle through the streets, except over a designated route 
to a slaughter house. 

The law is enforced jointly by the police and the Society for 
the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. The police must make 
arrests or serve summonses when they see the law violated ; 
officers of the society may do so. 

A policeman can kill an animal under the following conditions : 

1. If it be a large, vicious and there is imminent danger of its 
injuring a person, or is rabid. 

2. With the written authorization of the owner or his agent 
if it be injured or sick. 

3. If it be wholly abandoned in a public place and sick be- 
yond recovery. 

4. If it be injured beyond recovery in a public place and 
not removed within three hours after the owner has been 
notified. 

In the two latter cases the policeman must get two citizens 
to act as witnesses to the necessity of killing. An officer of the 
S. P. C. A. may kill an animal which is sick beyond recovery or 
suffering pain and not properly cared for. 



PRACTICAL POLICE WORK 20$ 

A Department of Health Inspector may destroy any animal in 
the public welfare's interest which has an infectious disease, or 
any animal in any public place, within the built up portion of the 
city, injured or diseased beyond recovery and not being properly 
cared for, if not removed within one hour after it came to his 
notice. 

Exhibitions 

It is a misdemeanor for the proprietor or manager of a place 
to allow an acrobatic performer to give exhibitions on a trapeze 
without a net or safety appliance ; to give exhibitions of skill in 
throwing a knife at or towards another; or to discharge a fire- 
arm at another person or to allow contestants in a bicycle race 
to continue for more than twelve hours out of each twenty-four 
or to permit surf bathing on a pay beach without life boats or 
life saving apparatus. 

QUESTIONS 

How would you act : 

(a) If notified by telephone at 2 A. M. that there were bur- 
glars in a private house whose owners were not in the 
city and that they had an automobile in the block. You 
have two policemen to help you. 

(b) If when you went there you saw the men escape and 
enter a house opposite while the chauffeur of the automo- 
bile escaped. 

(c) If the occupants of the house into which they went refused 
to respond to your demands for an entrance. Give rea- 
sons for your action. 
When the case of a young girl who is missing is reported to 
the police what general duty is imposed uoon the police in re- 
gard to that report? What difficulties lie in their way as to the 
making an investigation ; what may they do and not do in their 
prosecution of a search? What facts would help or hinder them 
in the course of such an investigation? 

* Mention all the circumstances under which a person may be 
abducted. 

What help should you give a domestic, armed with a sum- 
mons for a former employer who failed to pay wages for which 
he is civily liable to arrest, who complained to you that she was 
afraid to serve summons on account of the employer's bad 
temper ? 



206 PRACTICAL POLICE WORK 

What investigations would you make to ascertain the identity 
of two gangs who engaged in a pistol fight from automobiles in 
the street, while the people were so scared that nobody seemed 
to get anything but parts of the numbers of the automobiles ? 

Animal 

What is an animal under the Penal Law ? Give five general 
heads under which crimes against animals can be classified. 
What crimes against animals are felonies and what not? Apart 
from the criminal procedure what may be done by policemen 
and private persons for the protection of animals against cruelty? 

Arson 

What elements must be present to make a crime one of arson? 
What kinds of buildings or properties must be concerned ? Xame 
the various ways in which the crime may be committed. What 
are the full duties of a policeman who detects a fire under condi- 
tions that lead him to believe it to have been started criminally?" 

Assault 

What condition of mind must exist in the aggressor to make- 
assault a felony? Xame five specific acts which if committed 
would make assault a felony and give reasons. (General state- 
ments will not be accepted.) When is violence towards. another 
no crime? 

Burglary 

If informed that a house on your post had been entered in 
the daytime and a small quantity of property taken, and you had 
reasons to believe you knew the thief, what investigations would 
you make to determine whether or not you could arrest him with- 
out a warrant; what facts would lead you to believe you could 
make such an arrest and what not ? 

A burglary occurred last night at 18 West 72nd Street. A 
woman who keeps a furnished room house on your post over- 
heard snatches of conversation among two of her roomers, which 
leads her to believe they committed the crime. She tells you 
about it, says they are now in their room and asks you to arrest 
them. 



PRACTICAL POLICE WORK 207 

Give precisely the instructions you would give the woman 
concerning what she had to do before you could arrest them, 
and describe your own duty in the premises. 

Abandonment and Children. 

What two conditions must be present to justify a charge of 
abandonment? What do the following ages in minors indicate 
when taken in connection with crime by or against them : 18, 
16, 14, 12 and 7? Classify under six separate heads the ways 
in which children may be offended against and crime committed. 
What permits are given and by whom in connection with the 
•care of children and what is the purpose of requiring them? 
What is meant by an incorrigible child and what can be done to 
remedy the incorrigibility? What is an ungovernable child? 

Strike 

While on strike duty a man approached you and said he was 
one of those on strike because Jones had stolen his tools, Smith 
had threatened to do him up, Scott had threatened to have him 
boycotted and Brown had beaten him. He had had no food 
for himself or his family and wanted to go back to work but 
could not because the place was picketed by Smith, Brown, Jones . 
and Scott. What advice, assistance and protection would you 
give him at that time and what else would you do in connection 
with his case? 

If informed that during a strike a committee was engaged 
in writing anonymous, threatening letters to weak-kneed strikers, 
strike breakers and employers what would you and what could 
the department do to break up the practise, arrest and convict 
the offenders? - 

Homicide, Riot, Bribery 

Give a comprehensive enumeration of all the offenses classi- 
fied under the provisions of the law forbidding bribery. Give 
five separate and distinct ways involving five separate and dis- 
tinct kinds of officials or others in which a person may be 
•guilty of the offense of giving or receiving a bribe, specifying 
the grade of each crime. Give five ways in which a police 
officer may be guilty of bribery. 

Mention the four kinds of homicide and classify them as to 



208 PRACTICAL POLICE WORK 

the degree or absence of crime involved in each and giving an 
appropriate example of each. 

What is a riot? 

What an unlawful assembly? How are they distinguished? 

What is the police to do to prevent a riot? 

Who is to aid them if called? 

What are the penalties for refusal? 

Give the circumstances under which force can be used, and 
those where force is not permissible. 

GENERAL QUESTIONS 

For what crimes are persons extraditable (a) from State to 
State, (b) from a foreign country? What is the method of 
procedure followed? What procedure is provided when a per- 
son charged with an extraditable offense is to be arrested, and 
when after being arrested he sets up the claim that he never 
committed the crime, was not in the State where it had been 
committed at the time of the commission and is not the person 
mentioned in the papers? 

A policeman is informed that A is now in the act of writing 
a letter demanding the paymnet of a certain sum under threat 
of killing the person threatened. In substantiation B, the in- 
formant, shows scraps of a letter which A wrote and threw 
away. The policeman knows that A is in the habit of walking 
out and depositing mail at a certain hour when he will not be 
on duty. 

What can the policeman do? What ought he to do in such 
a case to prevent a crime and arrest the criminal? 

A is confronted with this situation : 

He wishes to marry. He has been maintaining meretricious 
relations with a young woman. She threatens to inform his 
fiance unless he pays her a sum of money for which she will 
return his letters. He agrees to pay and B is employed as a go- 
between. B gets some letters for him but says that the girl 
claims to have lost the others. The girl writes A she only got 
part of the money promised by B, he saying he would bring the 
remainder later. It turns out B held out on both parties and 
now threatens A with exposure, the girl too is threatening. 

Explain what crime if any both are guilty of. Give full 
reasons. 

A, a stranger to the city, sits down in a public square, and 
stands his S25 gold-headed cane against his leg while he reads 



PRACTICAL POLICE WORK 209 

the war news. B, a gentleman of leisure, comes along, admires 
the cane and picks it up. A grabbed for it, but B backed off 
and threatened that if A opened his mouth to make a "holler" till 
B escapes, B would beat out his brains with the cane. A was 
afraid and let B get away. To a policeman who came along, A 
told his story. The cop, from the description, was reasonably 
certain of B's identity. He also had a strong belief that B 
could be found in a certain resort where he might have sold 
the- cane to -a. hanger-out there. The resort is not on the cop's 
beat. Explain what the policeman could and should do if the 
stranger is in a hurry to leave the city. 

Apart from any legal definition, show how lottery amounts 
to a public nuisance. If assigned to look up a complaint that a 
lottery authorized by the Government of Venezuela was con- 
ducted in this city, ♦ mention all the different ways in which you 
would assume that the law could be violated, and the circum- 
stances in each case which would justify an arrest. Enumerate 
at least ten separate acts that would amount to a public nuisance, 
separating the felonies from the misdemeanors. 

What is a public nuisance? 

How may a person generally be guilty of a public nuisance? 

What is the difference between public nuisances and private 
nuisances ? 

You meet a girl of twelve on the street carrying a can of 
beer and stop her. She says her father lost his job a month 
before, left home to search for one and has never returned or been 
heard from. Her mother was in the habit of going out washing 
and leaving no food in the house. The janitor used the child to 
carry beer all day, and mind the baby. 

Mention all the ways in which this child has been offended 
against, the persons who are the offenders, the duties of the 
policeman, and the provisions which the law makes for this 
child's protection. 

Classify such acts as may be committed in the City of New 
York under the head of malicious mischief: 

(a) As felonies; 

(b) As misdemeanors. 

If informed that two dogs were then in a certain barn ready 
to engage in a fight, that the spectators are assembling and the 
fight will take place in half an hour, that the doors are locked 
and nobody is being admitted unless known or vouched for, that 
nothing is visible from the outside, except through a small one- 
pane window in the rear which apparently has been overlooked, 



210 PRACTICAL POLICE WORK 

and through which the dogs and the people may be seen. The 
dogs are on leash ready for action. 

Explain what you should do and how you should proceed, 
the nature of the violation, what should be done with tiie per- 
sons present as well as with the dogs both before and after trial. 

Enumerate all the ways in which a person may violate the 
Penal Law in his treatment of animals, specifying such as are 
felonies and those misdemeanors. 

Violations of the election law (not the primary) are either 
felonies or misdemeanors. Draw a broad distinction between 
the character of such acts as are felonies and such as are mis- 
demeanors. 

(a) When the offender is an official or a person charged 
with the enforcement or carrying out of the law ; 

(b ) When the offender is a person not so charged. 

Give five examples of felonies and five of misdemeanors, 
both in (a) and (b). 

What in general would be the duty of a police officer on duty 
at the polls in the event of any violation of the election law be- 
ing committed? 

What misdemeanor renders the convicted inelligible for office ? 

A clergyman having trouble with part of his congregation 
asked to have a policeman detailed at services. One of the 
ringleaders rose deliberately in the middle of the minister's dis- 
course and walked down the aisle and out. There was a regu- 
lation against leaving during services. 

Another ringleader let out a loud guffau at one part of the 
sermon and the usher invited him to leave which he refused. 

A third person pretended to sleep and began to snore. 

The Church authorities demand their arrest on the charge of 
conspiracy to interrupt the services. 

What should the policeman do? If he did make arrests what 
should the lieutenant do? Discuss the case with the law in view. 

Suppose that while blasting on a vacant lot a shot was fired 
•which broke several windows in houses in the immediate neigh- 
borhood, injured several persons living in these houses, and 
caused several horses to run away. You are within a block of 
the place where the blast went off, and arrive in time to see 
several workmen lying on the ground injured, and two others 
who appeared to be running away. Tell all you would do under 
the circumstances, and the order in which you would do them. 

What prohibitions are provided against danger to persons 
through the exercise of dangerous acrobatics or sporting contests? 



PRACTICAL POLICE WORK 211 

You had been a member of the Boiler Squad, and were as- 
signed to patrol duty because of a dispute with a deputy com- 
missioner who wanted you to pass a man whom you considered 
incompetent. You then wrote a letter to a Board of Engineers 
explaining why you had been transferred. The letter gave an 
entirely correct statement of facts. Nothing in it was falsely 
colored and your object was solely to set yourself right with 
your fellow members as an engineer. 

Is that insubordination? 

What defense would you put up if charged with insubordina- 
tion and conduct unbecoming an officer? 

Would prosecution lie and if so what would be the charge in 
each of the following cases : 

A pretending he had letters from B in Canada asking for 
workmen to be sent him persuades C to go to Canada as he ex- 
plained afterwards "to be rid of him." There was no work 
there and A knew it for B's letter told him so. 

A pretending that a place was open for B as a governess in 
the West Indies sent her to C who wanted her as a mistress which 
A knew. , 

A switchman boasts that he has left his switch unturned 
and that the three o'clock train was probably now in the ditch. 
You overhear him and take him into custody. It transpires that 
fvhile it was his duty to turn the switch his absence from post 
was discovered and the act done by another workman. What 
would be your duty on discovering this, and why? 

Suppose you halt an automobile for recklessly running down 
a pedestrian and making no effort to give aid. The chauffeur 
hands you a card reading "Alfredo Gomez, Brazilian Embassy." 
What would you do ? 

What would you do if the card read "Fred Clarke, British 
Consulate." Explain. 

Suppose an old woman complained to you that she was friend- 
less and penniless without relatives, except a grandchild, in this 
city, who was wealthy. What advice would you give her? 

Explain the similarity between vagrant and tramp and the 
ways in which they differ. How is each to be determined ? What 
penalty or penalties attach to being vagrants and tramps ? 

What is an habitual criminal? What is the penalty attached 
to being an habitual criminal? How does it affect his trial? 

State briefly the functions of the Grand Jury. Manner of its 
selection. 

You receive a telephone message to the following effect: 



212 PRACTICAL POLICE WORK 

A, about to leave on the Penn., is suspected of having killed 
a man in Connecticut. A body of the man supposed to have been 
killed has been found in a pool of water where he had drowned. 

B informs you he heard a person being murdered in a tene- 
ment house, and gives a circumstantial account of how the vic- 
tim's body was nailed in a box and carted away in dead of night. 

C informs you he heard an identified man resolve to himself 
to kill another and to work out a complete plan as to how it 
should be done. 

D delivers to you a prisoner whom he arrested for beating 
his messenger boy. D did not see the beating, but the boy, who 
was cut badly about the head, accused him, and the man did 
not deny it. 

E, an officer from another State, wants to deliver into your 
custody a prisoner arrested here for embezzlement in the other 
State, on a warrant issued there. He followed him to the railroad 
pier, and had no time for anything else here. This prisoner 
is passive. 

Should an arrest be made? Explain the law in each case. 

A policeman is informed by a woman that she had overheard 
A threaten that on the first opportunity he would blow the head 
off B, that he had provided himself with a gun and had given 
every evidence of an intention to do B grievous bodily harm. 

What is the policeman's full duty? 

L'pon what theory does he proceed to act ? 

What is the duty of the courts, 

(a) In case the charge is not denied? 

(b ) In case there is a denial. 

Explain fully. 

Suppose an officer is given a warrant to execute against A, 
employed with five others in a sash factory on the river front far 
uptown. When A and his associates see the officer they barri- 
cade themselves, refuse him admittance and jeer at him from the 
window. The officer fears if he leaves the place. A will escape 
across the river. There is a train of freight cars on a siding 
on which there are three or four men. These are the only persons 
nearby. 

Explain the officer's duty, his powers and responsibilities in 
the case, the offense and penalty connected with those in the 
factory, and the duty of the railroad men. with penalties for 
refusal. 

Suppose a domestic servant showed you a summons for John 



PRACTICAL POLICE WORK 213 

Jones, a citizen, who she said owed her $15 wages. It was 
stamped with the usual "subject to arrest" and, the girl said she 
was afraid to serve the summons, what should you do? 

How would you distinguish between a felonious assault and 
a simple assault in order to comply with the law in the making 
of an arrest? Explain all the distinctions. 

John Smith disappears from his home mysteriously. Two 
days after his disappearance, the dead body of a man was dis- 
covered beside the railroad so mangled and disfigured that identi- 
fication was not made. The clothes of the dead man were, 
however, identified as those of Smith. Soon after Bill Brown 
tells the police of having seen two men carry a body to the 
place where that mentioned was found, and deposit it there just 
before a train passed. These facts were developed on investiga- 
tion. Smith's wife was carrying on a liasison with Jones, and 
Smith knew something of it. Smith told friends he was going 
where he could never be found. Jones, infatuated with Smith's 
wife disappeared on the night the body was found. 

Formulate two theories as a solution of the case, and show 
what evidence would be needed to establish them. 

What different classes of persons are Jikely to be guilty of 
violating the law regulating the sale of cocaine? What is the 
grade of crime which each may commit? 

Having reason to believe that A was in possession of cocaine 
in violation of law B you are about to arrest him when he tells 
you he had a physician's prescription which authorizes him to 
have the drugs in his possession. What examination would you 
make, and what points would you look into to make certain that 
a crime had or had not been committed before taking action ? 

Suppose the complaint was to the effect that the law was 
being violated by a wholesale druggist in the selling of such 
drugs to a retailer? What points should be looked into? 



CHAPTER XII 

Ordinances 

Ordinances, like rules and regulation-, change constantly^ 
There are certain features of them which, however, do not 
change and these features should be kept in mind. When they 
are kept in mind it is easy to find out if details in regard to them 
have changed. There are at least half a dozen rules in regard 
to ordinances which ought to be kept in mind constantly -the 
two distinctive classes into which they are divided, the occasions 
when the duty of enforcement is all on the police and the 
occasions when it is only partly on them; the limitations im- 
posed upon the city in regard to regulating business and profes- 
sions., the reasons for licensing private uses of the streets and 
sidewalks and finally the necessity for ordinances at all when 
the State has the power to make laws to regulate everything that 
needs regulation. 

ORDINANCES— HOW PASSED AND ENFORCED 

It is made the duty of policemen of all grades to enforce 
ordinances as well as laws. 

Ordinances are made by the Board of Aldermen to supple- 
ment the laws passed by the Legislature. They are necessary 
because of the multitude of matters that need regulation in a 
congested city like Xew York — conditions not found in the 
country. 

All ordinances, however, do not call for the ordinary police 
enforcement. Many of them are enforced by special inspectors 
from different departments. The violation of some of them is in 
the nature of a crime, in others a civil offense for which a penalty 
only is prescribed which the Corporation Counsel can collect by 
civil action. 

A policeman is an officer of the law. He is specially charged 
with the prevention of crime, and where ordinances exist whose 
violation is a crime, the matter comes directly within a police- 
man's duty — provided the matter comes directly to his attention 

214 



PRACTICAL POLICE WORK 215 

or he is specially charged by his superiors to give attention to it. 

Police of all grades are generally charged with the enforce- 
ment of ordinances, but because the activities of a patrolman are 
more limited than those of a captain in charge of a precinct, for 
instance, it may happen that a captain has particular duties to 
perform in connection with the violation of an ordinance which 
the patrolman has not, even though both be charged generally 
with the enforcement of all laws and ordinances. In other words, 
the specific duty with which a patrolman is charged comes ahead 
of something else with which he is only generally charged. 

For example: A policeman charged with the violation of 
traffic might see a store keeper violate ordinances which it would 
be the duty of a man on patrol to correct. The traffic man would 
attend to his work of regulating traffic and leave the storekeeper 
to the man on patrol. 

The policeman sometimes owes the duty of co-operating with 
other departments in the enforcement of ordinances. In such 
cases his duty is not so exacting as in others where the duty of 
enforcement belongs entirely to the police . 

In order to know what ordinances a policeman must enforce 
actively and what not, he should first be guided by the nature of 
the offense. Is it a crime or is a penalty to be collected? With 
the first class he has either direct or indirect connection ; with the 
second class only so far as he may be charged by his department, 
not so much as a policeman as an employee of the corporation of 
the City of New York. 

Next, is the violation one that comes directly before him or is 
it hidden in buildings or otherwise? With the first class he 
has direct duties, with the second only indirect. 

Again does the nature of the violation make it necessary to 
have technical or expert knowledge for its detection? If so it is 
generally not the duty of a policeman to enforce it. 

For example: If a person were brought into court for hav- 
ing his theatre imperfectly ventilated or his tenement imperfectly 
lighted, the person presenting such a case before a magistrate 
would require to have expert knowledge as to ventilation or 
tenement house building laws, which knowledge might lie out- 
side the domain of a policeman's knowledge; therefore inspec- 
tors with special knowledge of these subjects are employed by 
the municipality to look after such cases and detect such vio- 
lations. Such inspectors are in the Tenement House Department. 
Fire Prevention Bureau, Building, Health and License Depart- 
ments. 



216 PRACTICAL POLICE WORK 

Enforcement of License Condition 

Policemen are intimately associated with matters requiring a 
license. Licenses are granted either because the licensee is get- 
ting a concession from the city or his business needs regulation 
because it jeopardizes morals or personal safety. The License 
Department keeps inspectors charged specifically with the en- 
forcement of the law, but the multitude of ways in which the 
law may be evaded can be apparent only to the patrolman in touch 
with conditions. These are constantly changing. 

A second-hand dealer must keep a record of purchases in 
detail, buy only at the designated place of business, not from a 
minor, apprentice or servant or suspect or at all between 6 P. M. 
and 7 A. M. Besides he must keep his goods for a week except 
a few articles of household furniture, etc., and in case lost goods 
are advertised corresponding to some in his possession, he must 
report the matter in writing to the Police Commissioner. 

A junk dealer is regulated and his junk cart must be marked 
as such. His business is to be carried on at a designated place, 
and the restrictions on him are somewhat similar to those im- 
posed on second-hand dealers. Junk boats were abolished during 
the war at the request of the Navy Department owing to the 
amount of thieving connected with them. They may not eve r 
be licensed again. 

As the adjustments of disputes between public cartmen or 
their patrons is left to the officer in charge of the station the 
policeman must know something about their charges but not 
in detail. 

What regulations govern street musicians and itinerant mu- 
sicians should be part of a policeman's knowledge. 

It should be remembered that violations of ordinances at the>r 
worst are only minor offenses, and violators of them should not 
be subjected to unnecessary hardship in answering to such vio- 
lations. 

Ticket Speculators 

The ticket speculators' problem was so vexatious that an 
Ordinance was adopted by the Board of Aldermen in December, 
1918, after consultation with the District Attorney and Corpora- 
tion Counsel, which permits the sale of tickets by speculators 
under certain conditions and restrictions. Tickets may be sold 
from offices at a profit of not more than 50 cents over the face 



PRACTICAL POLICE WORK 217 

"value of each ticket. A licensee may sell from several offices 
provided he names such offices in his application for a license 
to the Department of Licenses. The fee is $250 for a license 
which covers all his offices. No sales can take place outside these 
offices. THis Ordinance applies to all amusements (including 
all theatres) over which the Department of Licenses has juris- 
diction. 

Amusements 

Keep in mind the rule enunciated that neither the State nor the 
City has the right to arbitrarily regulate business unless that 
there is opportunity for fraud or where it is of such a nature that 
technical or educational knowledge is required in order to carry 
it on, or there is jeopardy to life and limb. The city undertakes 
to regulate amusements as a business and that is because of the 
opportunities they afford for moral degradation. 

Amusements may be divided into four classes, viz. : amuse- 
ments of the stage, common shows, dance halls and acrobatic 
performances. 

Police are concerned only with seeing that the performances 
are clean, that children under sixteen years are not admitted 
unaccompanied by guardians or parents. 

To understand what a common show is fancy yourself walk- 
ing down through the Bowery in Coney Island looking to the 
right and left, looking at "shoot the chutes," and the various other 
contrivances such as f err is wheels. A license kas to be obtained 
before any one of these can be carried on and all that the police 
is required to know is that the owner is licensed before he 
is allowed to conduct his business. 

With acrobatic performances and the like policemen have 
little to do. With dance halls when an application is made for a 
license to conduct one it is referred to the Police Department. 
The Commissioner sends the application to the Captain of the 
Precinct to investigate the character of the neighborhood, the 
character of the applicant, persons who frequent the place, their 
nationality, whether or not liquor is sold, whether any prosecu- 
tions or convictions have been had and various other matters. 
These are all to be embodied in a report and sent to the 
Commissioner of Licenses with a recommendation that a license 
is to be granted or refused. It is also to be remembered that 
unguarded children under sixteen are not to be admitted to dance 
halls, bowling alleys, billiard rooms and that the police are to see 



218 PRACTICAL POLICE WORK 

that this provision of the ordinances is carried out and that chil- 
dren are not to be employed in places of amusement unless they 
get a permit from the Mayor. There are exceptions to this 
rule. The exceptions are : Performances under the auspices of 
religious or charitable organizations or any organizations of an 
uplift character, or where a performance of any kind is being 
given under their auspices. Then can children not only attend 
them, but they can also take part in the performance without 
permission. This illustrates the general rule that amusements are 
restricted only when likely to be surrounded by demoralizing 
influences and the influences surrounding performances of these 
societies are not only not immoral but expected to be highly 
moral. 

The evidence of such violations is collected by the Department 
of Licenses of by semi-public bodies like neighborhood associa- 
tions and the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children. 
The requirement governing the admission of minors is in the 
penal code and applies to all places of public amusement. The 
violation is common in motion picture places. 

Most of the duty which the police have to perform is per- 
formed on the street. Any violations of the ordinances occurring^ 
on the street must therefore occur openly and notoriously to 
them. With these violations policemen are expected to be espe- 
cially familiar. Very many of the ordinances have to do with 
the unauthorized use of the street by private individuals. It 
must be remembered that the City owns the street from building 
line to building line. 

Explosives, Etc. 

While some if not most of the duties concerned with the 
enforcement of the explosives law is vested in the fire depart- 
ment, yet it is the duty of a policeman whenever he sees a vio- 
lation of that law occurring openly and notoriously on the public 
streets to take suitable action. In this connection it is well to 
remember that violations occurring on the waters of Xew York 
require a policeman to take the same action as if the occurrence 
had taken place on the streets of New York. It is therefore the 
business of every policeman to know the nature and kind of ex- 
plosives that can be carried through the public streets, the time 
of year when they may not be carried, the time of day when 
they must be carried, the character of the persons who must be 



PRACTICAL POLICE WORK 219 

in charge, the character of the wagon, the streets that they are 
to pass through, the amount to be transported. Similar provi- 
sions apply to the waters around the Harbor of the City. Juris- 
diction on the harbor extends to the high water line on the 
Jersey side. 

In the same manner if an accident were to occur, the police- 
man must take action. The action he takes is determined by the 
law, by the evidence and the results of the investigation he 
makes to place the blame for any damages. He must protect 
life and he must make arrests, if necessary. Hence if an impor- 
tant casualty occur as the result of sending off of a premature 
blast it is the duty of the policeman to make various kinds of in- 
vestigations. In order to do this, he must know the conditions 
which the blaster should comply with, because if these conditions 
have not been complied with there is a possibility that a serious 
•crime has been committed. 

Policemen ought to know the conditions under which fire- 
arms may be kept so as to advise citizens who may ask them 
about it. 

Fire hydrants of the city demand particular attention and 
protection from interference; it is the duty of the police to 
protect them. They must not be opened by citizens without a 
permit; they must not be obstructed for a distance of ten feet 
•on either side either by accumulations of snow or ice, refuse or 
other matters. The building of fires must be prevented within 
15 feet. 

The fire alarm telegraph system has also to be protected in 
order that false alarms of fire be not sent in. The violations that 
would come to the attention of the police in this respect have to 
do with obstructions, imitations, kite-flying and the like which 
"would obstruct the sending of messages. Poles may not be 
duplicated or other poles like them built in the near neighbor- 
hood. No advertisements may be placed upon them. 

Violations that would come to the attention of the police in 
this respect call for the taking of one of four kinds of action, viz. : 
arrest, the serving of a summons, admonition and warning, ad- 
vice or instruction, depending upon the circumstances and sur- 
rounding conditions. 

As has been noted the State can make restrictions on business 
activities or professions only when certain skill or education is 
needed to protect life or where there are opportunities for fraud. 
The businesses most conspicuously regulated are dealing in junk, 
dealing in second-hand goods or running the business of a pawn 



220 PRACTICAL' POLICE WORK 

broker and the restrictions regarding these three are very simi- 
lar, varying only in some slight details. They give opportunities 
for the concealment of fraud. Policemen should know the gen- 
eral restrictions that apply to all three of them as well as those 
that apply to only two or one. Generally the restrictions have 
to do with the manner of purchasing, the keeping of records, 
supervision, the persons that may be traded with, the care that 
has to be exercised when goods are reported as stolen by the 
police and the articles that may not be dealt in at all. 

Hackmen are licensed both because they use city property,, 
viz. : the streets and because otherwise they offer opportunities 
for fraud and crime. Hotel keepers and others that heretofore 
had a monopoly of the use of the public streets for hacks now 
have it no longer. All hack owners who obtain a license have 
equal opportunities in the streets. They must, however, comply 
with certain regulations as to the parts of the city occupied, the 
way in which they may solicit and not solict, the places they may 
stand and the number that may stand there, the signs that are to 
be displayed inside and outside the hack, the means they may 
take to protect themselves against irresponsible hirers and the 
things they must do in case anybody disputes the amount of the 
fare. 

On the Police Department is imposed the duty to see that these 
ordinances are lived up to, and the desk officer has the duty of 
settling any disputes in regard to fares. Hence the necessity of 
having every policeman thoroughly familiar with every provision 
of the hack regulating ordinance. These are constantly changing 
in details. 

As has been said the streets of the city belong to the public. 
The public is entitled to the free and unrestricted use of them. 
It is only, therefore zvhen the public can be better served tha-ft 
private persons have the right to carry on private business in 
the street. Before any such use of them can be made, however, 
a permit or a license must be obtained. This use must also be 
regulated so that the public may not suffer. Franchises apply to 
the use of the real estate in the streets given over to public ser- 
vice corporations for a consideration paid the city and also in con- 
sideration of their performing the obligation they contracted for. 

Franchises are granted by the Board of Estimate for a period 
of years. 

It is with the question of licenses that the police have mostly 
to deal. A permit is a kind of license. A license is mostly but 
not always for a longer time, generally for a stated period and 



PRACTICAL POLICE WORK 221 

sometimes carries with it a property interest that may be dis- 
posed of, under certain conditions. The line between licenses 
and permits is not well defined. They overlap. It is the business 
of the police to know the kinds of business that may be carried 
on in the public streets, the restrictions that are imposed, the 
time of day when they can be carried on and so forth ; the 
streets that must be avoided ; the institutions that must not be 
annoyed ; private buildings that must be avoided ; things that 
must not be done at night ; the reasons why they may not be 
done ; the protection that certain institutions are to receive ; who 
has the power to protect them ; the kind of protection they get ; 
the duty imposed on the police to enforce these ordinances and 
regulate these businesses. The details of these vary from time 
to time. 

The reason why the city can grant a license should not be 
forgotten : 

1. A concession is granted by the city and charged for. 

2. The business needs to be regulated. 
A business should be regulated : 

1. When it offers opportunities for fraud. 

2. When it is liable to jeopardize morals. 

3. When it makes life and limb unsafe. 

Parks are very important to the city. Special ordinances are 
made for their protection. Generally speaking these ordinances 
enumerate restrictions as to the uses that may be made either of 
the roadways or of the park proper, the uses that may not be 
made and to the restrictions that apply to the flowers and the 
trees. 

Parks are designed to look beautiful, to contribute to the 
pleasure, good health and recreation of the public? Trees and 
shrubs and plants, if not well kept, lawns not constantly watered 
will not look green or pleasing or cheerful. 



CHAPTER XIII 
QUESTIONS ON ORDINANCES 

1. In what public places (a) may advertising matter not be 
placed? (b) What parties only can conduct public worship in 
the street? (c.) When can a lounger be made to move on? 

2. What constitutes unnecessary noises in the public streets ? 
Who must be injured before the ordinances are violated and how ? 
What institutions get special protection? What is the nature of 
that protection ? 

3. Specify the encumbrances which are to be removed by the 
street cleaning department and those that may be removed by 
the Borough President. Give the rules of the road as to age 
limit of driver, lights to be carried, right of way, method of 
turning, speed, signals, standing at curb, and obstruction of traf- 
fic as provided by the ordinances. 

4. What are the objections to keeping animals without re- 
strictions in New York City? What health destroying matter is 
not permitted in the public streets? Who has charge of the duty 
of enforcing these ordinances? What have the police to do with 
those things? 

5. Before a person may encumber a street or sidewalk what 
must he do? For what purpose may the street be encumbered? 
In what manner and to what extent, under whose supervision? 
Under what conditions can stands be on the sidewalk and 
under elevator stairs? Give restrictions. What vehicles may 
not be left in the public street; what are the restrictions. What 
departments enforce these ordinances? What is the police duty 
in regard to such enforcement? 

1. What is meant by the "building line" on a street? What 
by the stoop line? To whom does the place included between 
these two lines belong? Under what circumstances can projec- 
tions extend beyond the building line? Enumerate generally the 
kinds of projections which may extend beyond the building line 
and give the rule governing such projections, the departments 
that regulate them and the duty of a policeman on post who sees 
a structure being projected. 



PRACTICAL POLICE WORK 223 

2. Whenever the owner of a building undertakes to erect or 
alter a four-story building, what duty is imposed upon the po- 
liceman on post for the protection of the general public against 
accidents, and the adjoining building from collapse?- 

3. To whom do the streets belong? On what theory are 
certain parties permitted to use the public streets under restric- 
tions? What uses can be made of the space between the build- 
ing line and stoop lines? Under what restrictions? State gen- 
erally and specifically the uses that owners can make of the fronts 
of. their buildings, and the conditions to be complied with in 
making use of such privileges? What private uses can the road- 
bed of public streets be put to? What conditions must a person 
making use of the privilege to occupy a public street for business 
comply with before he can begin to use it? What restrictions 
are imposed upon him afterwards in respect to (a) the streets he 
may occupy (b) the business he may conduct (c) the hours he 
can use them (d) the incidental conditions he must look out for? 
What departments are charged with the duty of enforcing these 
conditions and how are the duties divided? 

4. The Princess Helene flying the English flag is anchored in 
the bay; the Dupont Powder Co. sends a cargo of gun cotton 
and nitro glycerine by way of the Pennsylvania Railroad. Owing 
to congestion in Jersey City it is sent through the tunnel at night 
and back, again without consulting the city authorities. Several 
tons are loaded on lighters and carried to the ship; one lighter 
has loaded her cargo another is tied to the steamship and the 
third is standing ready to load, when you learn what has taken 
place. What laws have been violated, by whom and in what par- 
ticulars ? Give the appropriate police action. 

5. Before a blasting operation is undertaken what sort of 
person must be put in charge, what must he do and not do, be- 
fore and after each charge? At what hours may he not blast? 
What acts if committed by a blaster would justify action by the 
police? What sort of action? 

1. What kind of firearms can a citizen keep or carry with- 
out a permit? What must he do to keep or carry a sawed-oft 
musket, revolver, fowling piece to shoot with ? Can an alien keep 
or carry firearms? If so, under what circumstances? What 
offense is committed in the violation of this law ? What is a 
toy pistol as defined by the ordinance? 

2. What should you do if you saw a citizen attach a hose to 
a fire hydrant and sprinkle his lawn? Remove snow from the 
sidewalk and pile it twelve feet from a fire hydrant? A boy 



224 PRACTICAL POLICE WORK 

open a fire alarm box? A boy fly a kite alongside a telephone 
wire, two boys build bonfires, one on the street 15 feet from the 
fire hydrant, the other on a lot ten feet on the other side? 
Explain. 

3. What should you do if you saw a store newly opened on 
your post with the sign old gold and silver bought and sold here ? 
If, when you made inquiries, you saw a man who spoke to you 
in Yiddish and showed a book with Yiddish entries ; if you 
learned that the place was a sort of general store, where goods 
were taken on pledge and junk dealt in, that the proprietor was 
a philanthropist who charged his customers only ten per cent a 
year on pledged articles, was honest and paid good prices for his 
purchases ; assume all this to be true, discuss the case and state 
your duty. 

4. Where only may hack stands be located ? Who can pre- 
vent the location of a stand ? Who must be carried and who may 
not? What signs must be displayed inside and outside? How 
may drivers solicit and where not? What are the rates? % Who 
settles disputes and how? 

5. Name ten acts which if performed on the roadways of 
parks would violate the ordinances, and ten others which if com- 
mitted elsewhere would be violations. 

6. Having in mind solely the protection of the public from 
accident what things are individuals prohibited from doing on 
the streets and sidewalks of the city. 

7. What parties are charged with the duty of protecting 
the public from the inconvenience of falling snow ? What part 
of this duty is assigned to each? What duty has the police to 
perform? What is the manner of its performance? What dis- 
cretion has the police? 

Questions and Answers (Licenses) 

Q. Can you mention the articles which persons can sell at 
second-hand without requiring a Second-hand Dealer's License? 

A. Pianos, books, magazines, rugs, tapestries, burlaps, paint- 
ings, drawings, etchings and engravings and the first purchase or 
sale of imported second-hand articles. 

O. What records are a Second-hand Dealer required to keep? 

A. He must keep a book recording every purchase and sale ; 
a description of each article purchased or sold, with any numbers, 
monograms, or distinguishing marks thereon; the name, address, 
and general description of each purchaser or seller: the date and 



PRACTICAL POLICE WORK 225 

hour of purchase or sale ; and in the case of a pawnticket, the full 
description of the article as it appears on the ticket, with the ticket 
number. 

Q. What is a Second-hand Dealer required to furnish to the 
Police Commissioner? 

A. When served with a written notice to do so, he shall 
report on blank forms a copy of records of purchases and sales 
for the period certified in the notice. He must give all necessary 
information concerning goods dealt in by him to the police. 

Junk Dealers 

Q. What restrictions does the Code of Ordinances place 
upon a Junk Dealer? 

A. It prohibits him (1) from dealing in junk without hav- 
ing procured a license from the Department of Licenses— fee 
$20 and a bond of $250; (2) from carrying on business at any 
place other than the place designated in the license; (3)1 from 
buying goods from a minor, servant, or apprentice, or from any 
person between the hours of 6 P. M. and 7 A. M., or (4) from 
being a pawnbroker or second-hand dealer. 

Q. What does the Code of Ordinances require a Junk Dealer 
to do in regard to keeping records ? 

A. It requires him to keep a book recording every purchase 
and describing every article purchased, with the name, address 
and general description of the person from whom the purchase 
was made ; if the articles were purchased from a scow, coal-boat, 
lighter, tug, or other marine vessel to record its name and the 
name and address of the owner, and to keep these records open 
to inspection of the police and inspectors of licenses and to fur- 
nish reports to the police when required. 

Q. What else is licensed in connection with junk dealing 
besides a junk shop? 

A. Junk carts — $5 each. Every junk cart must show on the 
outside the words "Junk Cart," and no person shall collect junk 
except by these means. 

Q. What is meant by junk ? 

A. Old rope, old iron, copper, tin, or lead, rags, slush, old 
paper, brass, rubber, bagging or empty bottles. 

Q. Must an auctioneer have a second-hand dealer's license 
when he auctions second-hand goods? 

A. If he sells his own goods, yes ; if he sells goods for some- 
body else, no; in this case his auctioneer's license being sufficient. 



226 PRACTICAL POLICE WORK 

O. Can a blind person sell goods or newspapers or play 
musical instruments without a license? 

A. He can if a citizen of the United States, receive a license 
free of charge from the Mayor to peddle or vend. 

O. What may a veteran sell which would require a license 
from the Department if he were not a veteran and under what 
conditions can he sell? 

A. A veteran of the Civil or Spanish war may get a permit 
from the County Clerk of his county to peddle, vend, or sell by 
auction his own goods or merchandise. This authority is given 
under Art. 4 of the Business Law of the State. But the veteran 
cannot keep a stand on the sidewalk without a license. 

This privilege is now extended to veterans of the World War. 

Note. — This privilege is now extended to veterans of the 
World War and widows of all such veterans if they reside in 
New York State. Under the State law a veteran can get a free 
license from the County Clerk of his county to peddle anywhere 
and he is not interfered with unless he comes in conflict with some 
local restriction. But so many soldiers returned from Europe 
are engaged in peddling that some new local regulation may 
become necessary. 

Pawnbrokers 

Q. Who licenses -and regulates pawnbrokers, and what re- 
strictions does the licensing impose ? 

A. Pawnbrokers are licensed by the Department of Licenses, 
and charges against them are heard by the Commissioner of 
Licenses. They are licensed under the General Business Law 
of the State. The license fee is $500, and a bond of $10,000 is 
required. Pawnbrokers must keep entries of all transactions. 
The rate of interest is limited to 3 per cent, a month or fraction 
of a month, for the first 6 months, and 2 per cent, for each suc- 
ceeding month for any loan under $100, but 1 per cent, less for 
any loan over $100. 

A pawnbroker cannot purchase any second-hand furniture, 
metals, clothing, or any other article ; cannot in fact be a second- 
hand dealer. He must keep all pledged goods one year before 
selling, and all such sales shall be published, and be at public 
auction conducted by a licensed auctioneer. Hours are re- 
stricted, etc. 

Second-Hand Dealers, Etc. 

Old clothes men, by a recent amendment, are now licensed 



PRACTICAL POLICE WORK 227 

as Second-hand Dealers although they have no fixed place of 
business. Their licenses bear their home address and their fee 
is $5, All dealers in clothing consequently get a license for $5 
although the regular S. H. D. license is $15. 

Q. What information should a police captain or police in- 
spector give when he is required to report on an application for 
a dance hail license, which application is made to the Department 
of Licenses and referred to the Police Commissioner for his 
report ? 

A. He should report on the proximity of the liquor saloon, 
if liquor is sold on the premises, whether the hall is rented for 
public or private dances, the manner of charging for admission, 
the nationalities and character of the persons patronizing the 
dance hall, the general reputation of the place, the records (from 
the arrest record) if any, as to arrests and convictions either in 
relation to the conduct of the premises, or the record of the per- 
sons conducting the hall, and a general recommendation (in case 
of the Inspector of Police) as to whether or not the license should 
be granted. 

Q. Mention the restrictions or prohibitions placed upon a 
person or firm licensed as a Second-hand Dealer — the things that, 
under the ordinance, he is not allowed to do. 

A. Second hand dealers cannot buy goods from a minor, ap- 
prentice, or servant, knowing him to be such ; cannot buy them 
between 6 P. M. and 7 A. M. ; cannot sell small articles unless he 
has had them in his possession a week; not engage in business 
as a pawnbroker or junk dealer, nor can such second-hand 
dealer use pawnbrokers' signs or lead people to believe he is a 
pawnbroker. 

The following matters have been called to your attention offi- 
cially; if they constitute violations of the law state in what re- 
spect they do and state the action you should take in each case: 

(a) A man informs you that John Doe deals in second-hand 
automobile tires and has no license as a second-hand dealer. You 
-call at John Doe's store and he tells you that he sells new tires 
and occasionally accepts a second-hand tire in part payment for a 
new tire and that in any event these second-hand tires being 
accepted by him in exchange for new ones, the ordinance making 
an exception in the case of exchanges of merchandise, no license 
is necessary in his case. 

(b) You are informed by a citizen, and you find it a fact, 
that a man has just opened a store for the sale of second-hand 
books; and that he is selling them without a license. You -pur- 



228 PRACTICAL POLICE WORK 

chase a book which he admits to be second-hand. 

(c) A hat dealer collects old hats by purchase and otherwise,, 
sends them to a factory, has them renovated, re-banded and en- 
tirely remade. He sells them as factory "seconds." He has no 
license as a second-hand dealer. 

(d) A jeweler advertises a sale of second-hand Swiss watches, 
a large shipment of which he has just received from Switzerland. 
He has no license as a second-hand dealer. 

(a) Up to a recent period this man would be summoned to 
court for failure to have a license. But under a late ruling of 
the Corporation Counsel this method of exchange is not regarded 
as transactions which come under the ordinance. 

(b) Books exempted. 

(c) Summons to court. They are second-hand hats. 

(d) Exempted. 

Give answers to the following questions based upon the new 
ordinance licensing and regulating Masage Institutions and Oper- 
ators now in force : 

(a) State the objects of the law, the purpose for which it 
was enacted, and the provisions made for its enforcement. 

(b) Name the classes of establishments and persons who are 
specifically excluded from its regulation. 

(c) What is the principal prohibition placed upon massage 
operators who are duly licensed under this ordinance? 

(d) If you are informed that a woman known to be a nurse 
is operating as a Masseuse without having a license what steps 
would you take to discover whether or not she is violating the 
law ? 

(e) What is required by the law to show that a place where 
massage can be given legally is a duly licensed place? 

fa) Object is to prevent disorderly houses being conducted 
under the guise of massage parlors and to permit police super- 
vision over all such licensed places. Massage to be practised only 
by qualified and licensed masseurs. The general purpose is the 
suppression of disorderly houses. The Police Department and 
the Department of Licenses have jurisdiction over massage places 
within the rules and regulations laid down by the Board of Alder- 
men and such future amendment to these rules as may be en- 
acted by the Board of Aldermen. 

(b) Hospitals, sanitariums and bathing establishments (such 



PRACTICAL POLICE WORK 229 

as Turkish bath establishments) are specifically exempted. Bar- 
ber shops which give facial massage only are not included. 
Xurses and osteopaths are exempted from the necessity of being 
licensed and such persons as chiropractics, who do not actually 
give massage, can be exempted. 

(c) No operator can treat a person of the opposite sex, except 
on the signed order of a licensed physician, and this order shall 
state the number of treatments, but the number of treatments 
may be exceeded if given in the residence of the patient, the office 
of a physician or in a hospital or sanitarium. 

(d) I would require evidence that she was a graduate nurse 
and if she could not prove the possession of a certificate showing 
she was registered as such and also engaged in the profession 
of nursing. I would hold that she was practising massage with- 
out a license. Of course evidence of this would be required to 
bring about a conviction. 

(e) The law requires that each operator and institute 
display a sign having the words "Licensed Masseur," "Licensed 
Masseuse," or "Licensed Massage Institute," as the case may be. 
Every operator must be 21 years of age or over and must present 
satisfactory references, which must be verified before the license; 
is issued. 

LICENSE (Continued) 

^— *• - - 

Q. What is the difference between a licensed express and a 
licensed public cart? 

A. The express license is used by the owners of vehicles 
which carry packages and parcels throughout the city for pay; 
the public cart license is issued to those who cart goods by the 
load. The express license is $5, and the public cart license is 
from $2 to $5 ; that is, public carts drawn by horses have a $2 
license, and motor driven carts require a $5 license. 

Q. What does the Code of Ordinances provide in reference- 
to the charges which may be levied for the transportation of good*s> 
by both expressmen and public carts? 

A. In the case of expressmen there is a fixed rate for deliv- 
eries for each piece of baggage, namely, 40 cents a piece for 5 
miles; 55 cents for 10 miles, and 75 cents for 15 miles; but, if 
the expressman delivers goods from one borough to another, 
one-half these rates may be charged in addition. This, however, 
is the legal rate. Special terms can be made between the express- 
man and the customer if they so desire. 



230 PRACTICAL POLICE WORK 

In the case of public cartmen, the charges are usually agreed 
upon in advance, in which case it is the duty of the licensed cart- 
man to furnish a written memorandum signed by both parties. 
But where there is no agreement of this nature a schedule of 
prices is provided in the ordinances: viz., $1.25 an hour for a 
one-horse vehicle; $1.50 an hour for a two-horse vehicle; $1.75 
an hour for a small motor truck, and $2.50 an hour for a large 
motor truck. A charge of 50 cents an hour for each man em- 
ployed not more than three in addition to the driver is allowed. 
If a piano is included in the load, there may be an additional 
charge of $1.50, and if a piano is transported separately a charge 
of $3 for three miles can be made, and 50 cents for each addi- 
tional mile. Additional charges are allowed for hoisting pianos. 

Disputes as to charges by a public cartman are to be adjusted 
by the police officer in charge of the nearest police station, and 
if the parties do not agree to his decision, a sufficient amount of 
the load to secure payment is taken to the nearest storage ware- 
house and a statement of the case sent to the Department of 
Licenses for adjustment. 

Q. Can you mention any restriction placed on the owner of 
an express wagon that is not placed on the owner of a public 
cart? 

A. Every express wagon driver must have a license as such, 
paying $1 a year for the same, and his application for a license 
must be endorsed by two reputable citizens before it is granted. 
An expressman employing an unlicensed driver can be sued for 
$10 penalty for each offense. Every expressman must give a 
bond of $100 for each express wagon in use. This is not required 
in the case of owners of public carts. 

Q. What does the Code of Ordinances require to show that 
licensed express wagons arid licensed public carts are public 
carriers ? 

A. It requires each express wagon to have the words "Ex- 
press" or the abbreviation "Exp." on both exterior sides of the 
wagon. Public carts shall have similar signs (the words "Public 
Cart") and each vehicle shall have the license number. 

Q. What is a dirt cart as described in the Code of Ordi- 
nances, and what is required in the operation of one? 

A. Any vehicle transporting dirt, sand, gravel, clay, ashes, 
garbage, rubbish, or paving stones is deemed to be a dirt cart. 
But, according to the ordinance, if it has the owner's name and 
address in letters and figures three inches high it is not deemed 
to be a dirt cart. It must be licensed (fee $1) and have a tight 



PRACTICAL POLICE WORK 231 

box at least 18 inches high and securely covered when loaded, 
so that the contents shall not scatter. 

Q. What does the Code of Ordinances provide in relation 
to hoisting articles of any kind on the outside of buildings? 

A. It provides that person conducting the hoisting operation 
must have a license, either a general or special license. The 
general license covers the hoisting operations of a firm anywhere 
within the city for a term of one year, and costs $25. A special 
hoist license covers the particular job or transaction. In every 
instance where hoisting is carried on there must be tzvo danger 
signs placed on the sidewalk. 

0. What does the law require of a licensed public porter 
who carries baggage ; that is, what are the things he must comply 
with as laid down in the Code of Ordinances ? 

A. He must (1) wear a badge bearing the words "Public 
Porter" and the number of his license; (2) he must carry or 
wheel the articles himself and not turn them over to anyone else 
for transportation; (3) he must act as porter for anyone who 
asks him to do so unless he is actually engaged by some one else 
beforehand or unless the distance be more than 2 miles; (4) he 
is not to charge more than 25 cents for transporting any article 
for a distance of less than half a mile, if it is carried by hand,, 
nor more than 50 cents if it is carried by a wheel-barrow or 
hand-cart, but if the distance is over half a mile, one-half of these 
rates in addition may be charged, and one-half for each V2 mile. 

Q. What persons can act as porters without being licensed or 
without being amenable to this ordinance ? 

A. Employees of hotels and boarding houses, provided they 
transport baggage to and from those hotels and boarding houses 
only, and provided they have signs to indicate that this is the 
fact. 

Q. What other licensed persons must wear badges showing 
themselves to be licensed by the City of New York? 

A. Hackmen, peddlers, and operators of junk carts. 

Q. What sort of awnings are permissible in the city? 

A. Drop awnings without vertical supports, not to extend 
beyond 6 feet from the house line and which shall be at least 6 
feet in the clear above the sidewalk. Awnings without side cov- 
erings may be maintained for temporary use in inclement weather 
only, and these may be supported by upright posts of iron not 
exceeding 8 inches in diameter, but awnings with side coverings, 
or in good weather require a permit from the Borough President. 



232 PRACTICAL POLICE WORK 

Q. Name the regulations as to stands under elevated stair- 
ways. 

A. Each "L" stand must contain the reservation on the 
license that the railway company can make any repairs to the 
stairway it sees fit, without any claim for damages on part of the 
owner of the stand. No stand can be wider than the stairs, and 
it cannot extend along the sidewalk to a greater distance than a 
point where under the surface of the stairs is not over 7 feet 
from the level of the sidewalk. 

The license fee for this stand is $10, although stoop line stand 
licenses for the sale of newspapers are $5. But candy, tobacco 
and soda water cost $5 each extra; fruit, $10 extra. 

Each stand must be painted the color of the stairs, and no 
advertisement may be painted on the stand. 

0. Can stand licenses be transferred from one* person to 
another ? 

A. No; the license immediately ceases upon transfer, but a 
licensee may have his license transferred to another location with 
the consent of the Commissioner of Licenses and provided the 
property owner or lessee at the new location also consents. This 
provision is printed on the license. 

Q. In case of an accident to a truck, cart, or wagon, in 
which the vehicle is disabled, how long is the owner allowed 
to remove it? 

A. A reasonable time, not exceeding 3 hours. 

Q. What department removes all unharnessed vehicles in 
the public streets? 

A. The Department of Street Cleaning maintains yards for 
that purpose, and causes their removal. 

Complaint is made to you by a citizen as follows : "I arrived 
from Buffalo this morning, checked my trunk and suit case at 
the Grand Central Depot, presented the checks for same to a 
licensed expressman whose place of business is at Third Avenue 
and 42nd Street, requesting that he deliver trie trunk and suit 
case in a hurry to the Hotel McAlpin. He said all his drivers 
were engaged but as a favor to me he would telephone a near-by 
livery stable and hire a driver. He did so and delivered the trunk 
and suit case within two hours. He asked $3, which I refused 
to pay as being extortionate. He refuses to deliver my articles 
and holds them for non-payment of charges." Now, what action 
Ao you take under these circumstances? 

A. I would advise the complainant to pay the fees demanded, 
get his baggage and then request him to make a complaint to the 



PRACTICAL POLICE WORK 233 

Department of Licenses to the effect that the expressman, having 
failed to make an agreement beforehand as to the charges in the 
case of a special delivery, should refund any charge above the 
legal rate, namely, 40 cents per piece within a limit of five miles. 
I would then investigate the case for the purpose of finding out 
the name of the driver, find out whether or not he was licensed 
as an express driver, and if not would make C. O. complaint. 



: . ... . CHAPTER XIV 

RULES 

Rules and regulations change in their details, but certain 
features of them remain fixed and permanent. 

There will always be posts, but the number and kind of them 
will change. A policeman should be able to give the kind and 
number of them always. 

General and departmental orders will probably continue to be 
permanent and apply to the whole department while special or- 
ders will apply to individuals and relate to such things as appoint- 
ments and- dismissals. There will also be orders that apply to 
commands and be limited in their application ; telephone orders 
for quick action and circulars containing instructions to the force. 

Commanding Officers 

The Commanding Officer of a precinct will continue as at 
present to have supervision over the men and their work gen- 
erally as well as the conditions of his precinct. He will have 
general, special and particular duties ; have to keep in touch with 
his precinct when absent so that he can be readily located and 
communicated with in case of emergency, have certain assign- 
ments to make, be responsible for the peculiar fitness of men on 
patrol on certain posts and for 

Conditions of precinct; 

Enforcement of law : 

Preservation of the peace; 

Protection of Life and Property; 
i..- Good Order, Efficiency, Discipline, Particular duties 

v! 'J of men as at present. 

Desk Officers 

Desk officers will continue to be the clerical men who keep 
-official records that are necessary and make them promptly and 
accurately, stay behind the desk unless in case of urgent personal 
necessity or on police business, be responsible for what takes 

234 



PRACTICAL POLICE WORK 235 

place behind the desk; keep track of the men, report absentees, 
inspect memorandum books; inspect supplies and keep a record 
of them; call attention of the captain to unusual occurrences or 
important messages and supervise the searching and keeping of 
prisoners brought to the station. 

Sergeants 

Sergeants will always continue to have immediate supervision 
of the work of patrolmen, be called upon to assist and instruct 
them in their duties ; investigate and report absences from patrol 
according to methods which may vary from time to time; take 
charge of outgoing platoons and be the connecting link between 
the officer of patrol and the station house to which they report. 
The routine method of performing these duties may change. 

Patrolmen 

Patrolmen will always be expected to go directly and promptly 
to their posts, examine them for acts of lawlessness; stay on 
them till relieved and quit only for police reasons or personal 
necessity, when precautions will have to be taken by them to 
show they are not faking which precautions may vary in their 
method. They will always be expected to try doors and investi- 
gate suspicious persons and circumstances. 

Patrolmen will always be expected to give their whole time to 
the department, take orders from superiors, treat the department 
business as confidential, be alert and observing while on patrol 
and not as a rule: 

Drink, smoke, gamble; 
Carry packages ; 
Sit in R. R. car in uniform; 
Solicit passes; 

Influence business ; ; . , 

Advise redemption of pawned articles ; 
Alter equipment; 
Under the conditions imposed at present. 
The following things now required of policemen will probably 
continue to be permanent: 

Be respectful. Report sanitary matters. 
Use police signal boxes. Keep memo. book. 
Be cautious in detecting crime. Mark evidence. 
Request analysis. 



236 PRACTICAL POLICE WORK 

Keep rules up to date. 

Pay bed women promptly. 

Answer telephone by formula. 

Use proper signals. 

Report suspicious places. 

Report useful information. 

Salute properly. ^ Salute at proper times. 

Faithful in attendance, diligent in performance of duty. 

Attendants 

Attendants will continue to be responsible for the perform- 
ances of work about the station, such as attending to fires and 
lights, looking after prisoners and the condition of the cells, rais- 
ing the flag, etc. 

Matrons 

The duties of matrons will be to take care of women and 
children, protect them from any kind of harm that might other- 
wise come to them, make searches, keep their own rooms and 
co-operate with the children's society. 

Property 

The following outline now indicates the manner in which 
property owned by or coming into the hands of the police is 
disposed of. Most of the procedure is permanent in its character. 
Jt is to be used only to help call up details. 

Bureau of Supplies — Acquires, maintains, sells, accounts for 
all property. 

Commanding Officers Responsible for — Orderly arrangement, 
sanitary condition of buildings, furniture, equipment, care, use, 
serviceability of department property. 

Limitations of Use — Official purposes, designated member 
purpose. 

Things Forbidden — Altering, changing, replacing. 

Property Clerk (General Duties) — Safe keeping, disposition, 
-record of all property in custody. 

Patrolman Delivers to Desk Officer — Lost, stolen, abandoned, 
^unclaimed, recovered, evidential property. 

Proceeds of Raid — Inventoried, disposed of. 

Animals — Lost, strayed, stolen — Livery auction. 



PRACTICAL POLICE WORK 237 

Property Perishable — Captain Sells. 

Receipts by Patrolman — Property found and delivered to him. 

Dead Men's Property — Next of kin or Property Clerk. 

Property — Stolen or evidential, Property Clerk. 

Weekly Reports — To Property Clerk. 

For Court Use — Subpoena, order of Desk Officer. 

Return of — Property or receipt. 

Identification of Stolen Property- — In officer's presence — Push 
carts ; Bureau of Incumbrance. 

Explosives or Combustibles — Bureau of Combustibles. 

Lost or Found Property — Division of Lost Property. 

The care of equipment, the cleaning and lubrication of bicycles 
by cycle and motorcycle men; the care in the use of horses by 
mounted men; the care of booths by booth men and of the patrol 
wagons by patrol drivers while in use will continue to call for 
some sort of attention from their respective users. 

The captain will continue perhaps, to have the right to excuse 
men from reserve on urgent personal necessity. Leaves of ab- 
sences will always be limited, and emergency leaves in which the 
captain exercises discretion necessary, but the amount of discre- 
tion may change from time to time. On the changes it is neces- 
sary to keep posted. 

Aided Cases 

Cases not involving arrests now called aided and accident 
cases will always be handled and require attention different from 
that given to cases of arrests. There will be sick and injured 
needing ambulances and medical attention, missing and unidenti- 
fied persons to be reported and looked up; insane persons need- 
ing hospital attention, dead bodies to be reported, calling for 
descriptions, particulars, search at the proper time; inquiries 
about missing persons, parents of lost children to locate ; found- 
lings to dispose of and investigate before or after sending to the 
Charities Department. 

Vehicles 

Every accident involving vehicles will always call for thor- 
ough inquiry, examination and investigation to determine who 
was at fault. The following outline of procedure is not likely 
to be changed materially : 

Evidence of Negligence — Make arrest. 



238 PRACTICAL POLICE WORK 

Conflicting (No Evidence) — Magistrate, report. 
Serious Accidents by Non-residents — Arrest. 
Slight Injuries and Negligence — Arrest. Inform person of 
right. Magistrate, witnesses. 

Defective Mechanism — Detain vehicle; examination, evidence.. 
Mechanical Apparatus — Safeguard. 

Arrests 

Arrests will always have to be made in accordance with law,, 
the arrested must be treated humanely and get safe keeping ; the 
arrests made known at the station and recorded where searches 
will have to be made. The patrol wagon will have to be called 
whenever the distance is long, the arrested are unable to walk 
or their condition is offensive to public decency. 

PROCEDURE AT DESK 

When a person is arrested the procedure is to arraign him at: 
the desk, make a charge, take and enter pedigree, search the 
prisoner and either lock him in a cell, send him to court or 
admit him to bail. The following outline indicates the present 
way which is more or less permanent : 

Unconscious or Injured Prisoner — Not to station. Ambulance,, 
hospital, search, receipt, certificate to Magistrate. 

Unconscious Prisoner — No cell ; ambulance, to hospital. 

Sick Prisoner — Report to station ; guard, ambulance, hospital. 

Woman Nursing Baby — No cell. Maternity home or hospital. 

Minors — Petty violations, warned, arrest only on persistence,, 
summons, not with older prisoners. 

Truants — Taken and delivered to school. 

Juvenile Delinquency — Children's Court; Society. 

Prisoners' Property — Five kinds. 

Interviewing Prisoner — Five persons. 

i 
Summonses 

The method of accounting for summonses is likely to change. 
They are now obtained from the chief clerk in blank, with serial 
numbers and stubs. They are indexed, must be accounted for,, 
reported if lost or damaged, filled by indelible pencil or ink and 
reported to the desk officer. The additional details in regard, 
to them are subject to change. 



PRACTICAL POLICE WORK 239 

Complaints 

Complaints will continue to be of two kinds — inside and out- 
side. They will concern an improper act or omission ; relate 
to the business of the department, members of it or conditions in 
relation to such. They will call for investigation, the remedying 
of an improper condition or the prevention of its recurrence. 

Outside complaints will continue to be made by the com- 
plainants to the desk officer, probably be investigated by the In- 
spector and reported to the Police Commissioner with recom- 
mendations for dismissal or trial. Minor derelictions will prob- 
ably continue to be disposed of by the District Inspector. 

Trials 

Trials should always be conducted without unnecessary tech- 
nicality, unreasonable delay or offensive speech or action on the 
part of anybody. Members will be subject to dismissal for 
violation of a rule of the department; disobedience of orders 
written or oral ; cowardice ; intoxication ; insubordination ; con- 
duct unbecoming an officer ; false official statements after convic- 
tion of crime, or for disorder or neglect to the prejudice of good 
order, efficiency and discipline according to the degree of the 
offense and the discretion of the Commissioner. 

To borrow or lend from associates or to spend department 
money without proper permission will continue to be forbidden 
t>y rule. 

Health 

The proper care of one's health, of equipment and uniform 
and bed linen will continue and conditions due to carelessness, 
viciousness or immorality and deceit in simulating sickness pun- 
ishable on the report of the surgeon. 

QUESTIONS ON RULES 

What is a commanding officer, as denned by the rules of the 
Police Department? How is the statute of a commanding officer 
determined? Describe fully. 

Mention in detail the general responsibilities imposed by the 
rules of the Department on commanding officers, and how is a 
commanding officer made to understand the sense of this 
responsibility ? 



240 PRACTICAL POLICE WORK 

Mention seven duties specifically imposed by the Book of 
Rules upon members of the detective division, and show how the 
police force as a whole is required to cooperate with the detec- 
tive force. 

Suppose the captain, one lieutenant, two sergeants and five 
patrolmen wanted to leave the city for three days, all from the 
same precinct and all at the same time. 

The captain and lieutenant are going to attend a fraternal 
convention; a sergeant and three patrolmen to attend an athletic 
meet ; one patrolman is to attend his father's funeral, another his 
uncle's, and the other sergeant to look after personal business. 
Could they all go? If not, what preference should be given? 
What formalities by them and their superiors should be gone 
through before leaving? How is absence counted? What effect 
would it have on their annual vacations ? 

Suppose an insane person escaped from a private sanitarium 
and ran into the street, shouting and brandishing a knife. A 
citizen, in getting out of the way, stepped on an unfastened 
manhole cover, which overturned, causing him to fall and break 
his leg. 

The injured man is pursued by the maniac and is protected 
by two citizens, who disarm the insane man. When a patrolman 
arrives, they are holding him. Two attendants from the sani- 
tarium arrive and seize him to bring him back. A citizen offers 
to bring the injured man home in an automobile. What duties 
devolve on the patrolman ? State everything he should do. 

A patrolman finds an unconscious person on the street. As 
he discovers him, an excited woman rushes from a drug store and 
says her husband is the unconscious man ; that they were to- 
gether and he fell in a faint and she had telephoned for a. 
doctor. The man is carried into the drug store. The patrol- 
man telehpones for an ambulance. The ambulance surgeon 
thinks the man shows symptoms of poisoning. While they were, 
working over the victim, the woman disappeared. There is noth- 
ing on the man's person to identify him. What should be the 
full duty of the officer on patrol and the desk officer in regard 
to the matter? 

While a patrolman is on post, a woman comes up to him and 
tells him that she is going to the house of John Jones at No. 398' 
W. 72nd St., to get satisfaction. She appears to be slightly in- 
toxicated. He advises her to go home. She went on her way,. 
however, and ten minutes later a boy tells him there is a woman' 



PRACTICAL POLICE WORK 241 

dying in the areaway at No. 398 West 72nd Street. When he 
reaches her she said "He did it." It was evident that the woman 
had fallen or been pushed from the stoop of the house. One of 
the citizens who gathered said she saw the woman ringing the 
door bell. What is the full duty of the patrolman and of his 
superiors in such a case ? 
What must be done 

1. When a policeman finds a lost child which can talk? 

2. When a policeman finds a lost child which cannot talk ? 

3. When a policeman discovers a foundling? 

4. When a citizen discovers a foundling and calls the atten- 
tion of the policeman to the find? 

5. When inquiry is made at the police station regarding a 
girl of fourteen who is missing? 

Explain the rule, "No person shall be arrested nor detained 
except as provided by law." 

Mention the classes of officers affected by the rule which 
makes each member of the force responsible for the humane 
treatment and safekeeping of a prisoner in his custody, or who 
is detained in a building or part thereof over which he has su- 
pervision. 

A child is killed by an automobile. The child was playing 
"cat" in the street. The chauffeur and passengers say he ran in 
front of the car, which was going only fifteen miles an hour, 
and the accident' was unavoidable. Two citizens, however, say 
that the accident could have been avoided, had the chauffeur been 
careful or skilful. What is the full duty of a patrolman who ar- 
rives there immediately after the accident? 

What procedure is followed by the Police Department when 
the driver of a United States mail wagon is charged with 

(a) A misdemeanor. 

(b) A felony. 

A policeman finds an unconscious person on the street. Beside 
him is a bottle almost : empty. In his pockets there are a re- 
volver, a gold watch and some money; on his person some jew- 
elry. State everything that the officer should do. 

State the full duty of a desk officer (130-133) when a police- 
man arraigns a prisoner before the desk, whom the patrolman 
says he has reason to believe to be guilty of homicide and rob- 
bery. The grounds for his belief are that a certain man was 
robbed and murdered a few days before and the prisoner was 
found trying to pawn jewelry which corresponded in description 
to that stolen from the dead man. 



242 PRACTICAL POLICE WORK 

A man charged with forgery and embezzlement in Ohio is 
alleged to be living at a certain house in your precinct. What is 
the full duty of your officers, upon the receipt of such informa- 
tion and afterwards ; 

(a) In case an arrest is made forthwith? 

(b) In case an arrest cannot be made immediately? 

What classes of prisoners may not be confined in cells upon 
arrest, and what should be done in each case? 

Acting upon information he has received, an officer arrests 
a man and woman who had just bought a quantity of ether, 
which they had carried to a lot and had partly drunk. The 
officer's information was to the effect that they had agreed to 
commit suicide. After being locked up in a cell, both became ill. 

Discuss the right of the policeman to make the arrest and 
tell the duty of the desk officer upon arraignment and afterwards, 
giving the various possibilities of such a case. 

Explain the full duty of a desk officer in regard to prisoners 
locked up all night, before they are taken to court in the 
morning. 

What purpose is the policeman's summons inteded to serve? 

In what classes of cases may the summons not be used ? 

What discretions are given to the officer furnished with one 
of these books? 

What must'- he do after he has served a summons? 

What elements must be present to constitute a ''complaint" 
under the rules 'of the Police Department ? 

What procedure is followed in connection with 

(a) A department complaint; 

(b) A citizen's complaint? 

Under what general conditions is a member of the force 
entitled to special department recognition? 

What would be your duty as an inspector in case any of these 
circumstances was brought to your attention? 

What does department recognition consist of, and for what 
acts is each grade of recognition awarded? 

In order that an officer may be on duty at the desk at all 
times, and that the regular officer assigned may be held fully 
responsible, what rules have been made to govern such officer's 
conduct from the time he takes charge of the desk till he is 
relieved from such duty? 

An inspector of a district is authorized to dispose of a minor 
dereliction. State briefly the advantages of such a rule and 



PRACTICAL POLICE WORK 243 

enumerate five minor derelictions which might appropriately come 
under such a rule. 

What general conduct must be observed by all concerned at 
the trial of a police officer and what particular procedure must 
be followed in the conduct of such a trial? 

For what offenses generally may punishment be inflicted 
on a member of the force by the Police Commissioner, and 
what may such punishment consist of? 

For what purposes may a member of the force incur a liabil- 
ity against the City of New York? If the bill is $35, what 
should have been done first ? What if the bill was $60.00? What 
information must be furnished with such a bill to obtain its 
approval ? 

A deputy police commissioner strolling down the avenue 
meets the following members of the force. Which of them should 
salute and which not? 

An inspector in uniform ; 

A captain in plain clothes ; 

A lieutenant in uniform; 

A detective in plain clothes. 

Suppose it was an inspector in uniform who walked down 
the avenue; what should these men do? 

Suppose it was an inspector in plain clothes ? 

A sergeant on patrol is made responsible for the proper per- 
formance of patrol and other police duty by members of the 
force subject to his jurisdiction. State everything he is required 
to do by the rules in order to meet such responsibility. 

What is a patrolman's first duty on arriving at his post? 
What responsibility is imposed on him? 

What general circumstances may arise to warrant a pa- 
trolman leaving his post? When such circumstances do arise,, 
what is the policeman to do in order to supply evidence of the 
existence of such conditions or circumstances? 

What in general are the uses to which the memorandum of 
a patrolman is to be put? What value is it? How must it be 
kept? 

During a walk over the post of Patrolman A you saw three 
men looking in a dark hallway; two young men and two girls 
seemingly under sixteen in another doorway; the patrolman 
talking to another man on the sidewalk ; a torn-up pavement un- 
lighted, and when you send a man to inquire from A where a 
public telephone is to be had he said he did not know. Discuss 
this case, showing the investigations you made, and give the 



2u PRACTICAL POLICE WORK 

circumstances under which you would make charges against A, 
and those under which you would dispose of the case under 
authority of Rule 250. 

Where and when may a policeman 

Not smoke; 

Not drink; 

Not use profane language. 

What is the duty of a patrolman under each of the following 
•conditions ? 

A number of man-hole coverings blow off. 

An automobile and street car collide, causing several cas- 
ualties. 

A murder has been committed. 

A fire has broken out. 

What persons and vehicles are admitted within fire lines? 

Give one reason for each admission. 

What is a policeman to do 

(a) When a citizen complains of being unable to reach his 
liome within the fire lines? 

(b) When there are injured and unconscious persons on the 
street before ambulances have arrived? 

( c ) When firemen are overcome ? 

(d) When a fire attacks a building where there are human 
beings ? 

(e) When there are more persons to be rescued than the fire- 
men can take care of ? 

(f) When persons wish to reach their offices after lines have 
been drawn at a parade? 

Make out a return in tabular form, showing property in the 
station house at the last inventory, (b) property obtained since 
then and (c) property lost, worn out or disposed of and how. 
Make six entries in all. 

It had come to your attention as a commanding officer that 
a member of your command was breaking the rule forbidding 
the influencing, or attempt to influence, the lawful business of 
another person. The thing was being done in a very clever and 
quiet manner, making it difficult to get at the bottom of the 
affair. Write a report to the Police Commissioner giving the 
nature of the information you received, the plans you laid and 
the success you had, with such recommendations as are fitting 
in the premises. 



PRACTICAL POLICE WORK f 245 

Suppose a patrolman found a diamond ring on his beat, 
picked up a quantity of silverware which burglars dropped when 
being pursued, and discovered a push cart with fruit apparently 
abandoned. What duty in regard to each devolves on 

(a) The patrolman; 

(b) The lieutenant at desk; 

(c) The captain; 

(d) The Police Department. 

A suit which has been brought in a Municipal Court to re- 
cover damages from the city on account of injuries caused by a 
defective sidewalk is down for trial. The Assistant Corporation 
Counsel and the Counsel for the plaintiff both want to see the 
original record which they think contains evidence that the 
transcript does not show. The plaintiff serves you with a sub- 
poena duces tecum just as a Deputy Assistant Corporation Coun- 
sel appears and asks to be shown the record. The other lawyer 
objects. Explain what you would do, why and what rules 
govern you. 

What do you understand by the phrase "Due process of law ?" 
Mention five circumstances under which transcripts of the blotter 
are to be furnished "under due process of law" and all others 
when the desk officer is required to read the blotter to the 
person seeking for information. 

Assume the following conditions : 

A public taxicab chauffeur brings two men to the station to 
settle a dispute about the fare. The men are from out of town. 
They alleged that the amount indicated by the Register was in- 
correct, and in substantiation they stated specifically the points 
from which they started and stopped. The chauffeur, while 
admitting this, said he had run into a political parade and one 
of the passengers had said "Let's watch it for a while." The 
driver waited for half an hour when the same passenger said 
"When are we going to get out of here, we will be late." In 
order to get away from the parade the driver had driven to 
another avenue and had gone nearly half a mile out of his way. 
The desk officer is trying to settle the dispute when you a Captain 
arrive. Write a report, giving a full description of the dispute, 
the law governing it and )'our own action. 

Mention the precautions taken to prevent tampering with 
station house records in the methods of keeping such records 
themselves. Include therein: 

The manner of opening and closing such records. 

The order and manner of entries. 



246 PRACTICAL POLICE WORK 

Ink, erasures and corrections. 

Manner of closing entries. 

Blank spaces. 

Signatures. 

Manner of keeping general and special orders. 

Suppose the head of an anti-vice society who has sent many 
letters, telegrams and phone messages to Police Headquarters 
complaining of a disorderly resort kept by a former convict, 
wishes to bring charges against the police officials to the proper 
authorities, what records of the Police Department should he 
subpoena in case he wanted to prove the possession of knowl- 
edge by them not acted upon ? In whose custody are such records 
kept? 

Suppose the Police Commissioners wanted to make an in- 
vestigation of a private complaint to the effect that there was 
lackness in discipline among members of several precincts, that 
the men were away too much on sick leave, that complaints were 
sidetracked and charges suppressed, and that all property taken 
from prisoners was not properly accounted for ; in what books of 
record should an examination be made to help in the investigation 
of such a complaint? 

Suppose the Police Commissioner wants to make an investi- 
gation to ascertain if the property of the Department is in an 
up-to-date condition and according to certain standards which 
he has determined upon, what records should he first examine 
in order to obtain an idea of its character so as to save a physical 
examination of each article? 

Describe the station house blotter 

(a) As to general things contained therein. 

(b) As to particulars entered from time to time. 

(c) As to the manner of keeping it, and by whom. 

Write a report showing the advantages and disadvantages 
of allowing policemen to interview the Commissioner without 
having to make the request for an interview through official 
channels. 

Certain facts respecting persons arrested and aided must be 
made record of in all cases and other facts in special cases. 

(a) Mention the facts that are peculiar to all cases, and 

(b) The facts which should be noted if the circumstances 
calling for their entry arose, with the accompanying circum- 
stances. 

What reports are desk officers and commanding officers re- 



PRACTICAL POLICE WORK 247 

quired to make daily? What reports regularly when not daily? 
What reports irregularly ? In what manner are reports furnished ? 
What returns must also be made by the same men, and to whom ? 

How is an official communication of the Police Department 
distinguished from a non-official one? 

In the making of an official communication what limitations 
-are imposed on the maker as to 

(a) Subject; 

(b) Method of making ; 

(c) Manner of address; 

(d) Manner of identifying a member of the force when 
Tef erred to; 

(e) Manner of signature; 

(f) Manner of transmission and means by which route of 
transmission can be traced. 

(g) Any other things necessary. 

Because of information you get, a squad of policemen is 
formed by you to prevent an alleged prize-fight from taking 
place at a certain road-house in your precinct. Because of what 
the promoters of the fight learn, the prize-fight is not pulled off 
there, but a couple hundred men repair to a barge moored in the 
river from which, because of a plan prearranged, you and your 
men are excluded. Further attempts to board the barge have 
been unsuccessful. 

Write a report telling of: 

The information you get; 

The plans you made; 

Why they miscarried or were frustrated; 

All the efforts made by you; 

What you learned; 

What you recommend. 

Suppose a policeman got sick on his beat and had to be 
carried to a drugstore, from which he is sent home in charge of 
a police surgeon, who considers the case a very serious one, and 
the disease probably contagious. 

Explain the whole duty of the police surgeon and the pa- 
trolman from the time of the latter's collapse till he is fit to 
return to duty. 

1. Assuming the disease was not contagious. 

2. Assuming that it was. 

Mention ten separate and distinct acts on the part of a pa- 
trolman, with an appropriate example in each case, which would 



248 PRACTICAL POLICE WORK 

require a district surgeon to bring the matter to the attention of 
the Police Commissioner. 

What special duty is imposed on a district surgeon in the 
case of a patrolman who has been sick. 

(a) For thirty days; 

(b) Has just been injured; 

(c) A policeman convalescent; 

(d) Is acting queerly. 

Mention all the members of the force and all the circum- 
stances under which they may appear for duty in civilian dress. 

Explain, with appropriate examples, the rule that "a member 
of the force is personally responsible for the proper and au- 
thorized use of his uniform and equipment." 

Explain why a member of the force must carry his shield 
at all times. 

What uses are to be made of the shield? Of the shield 
number ? To what uses are shields not to be put ? 

When a patrolman has had an article of equipment damaged 
or lost, what course of procedure has to be gone through to 
have it replaced, 

(a) In case the loss or damage occurred on account of proper 
performance of public duty? 

(b) In case it occurred otherwise than in the proper per- 
formance of such duty? 

A member of the Department shall promptly obey all lawful 
orders of his superior officers. Pick out five instances where a 
policeman would be justified under this rule in disobeying the 
orders of a superior, orders to be such as might be mistakenly 
given. 

Explain the meaning of the rule "A member of the Depart- 
ment shall be fit for duty when subject thereto," and show how 
the rule could be violated. 

Explain what is meant by "confidential" in the rule requiring 
a member of the Department to treat as confidential the official 
business of the department with which he is acquainted. Give 
the reasons for the rule, with three examples to justify its ex- 
istence. What exceptions to such rule are made? 

Give six examples of the ways in which a member of the 
Department might ordinarily violate the rule requiring him to 
be respectful in his contact with others. 

What general duty is imposed on a policeman who finds a 
person dead under circumstances that may point to the fact 
that a crime has been committed, and give all the things under 



PRACTICAL POLICE WORK 249 

the circumstances that a policeman should do, and those which 
he should not do in order to observe the rule. Show, by an ex- 
ample, how the strict observance of such a rule may serve the 
ends of justice, while a non-observance of it might have the 
opposite effect. 

What line of conduct must a policeman observe 

(a) While walking on the streets; 

(b) While riding in street cars; 

(c) While riding in carriages; 

(d) While riding horseback; 

(e) While riding bicycles; 

(f) While riding in autos. 

If specially assigned to observe violations of the liquor tax 
law mention all the things 

(a) That a policeman should do, 

(b) All that he should not do in the performance of such 
a duty, and give a reason for each. 

Suppose you were assigned in a populous precinct where a 
parade was scheduled in honor of a political personage. Five 
times as many persons as were expected turned out in sym- 
pathy and along the route were lined large numbers who perpe- 
trated hostile acts. Write a report, telling what preparations had 
been made for handling the crowds and what additional things 
you had to do to preserve order and keep the peace. 

GENERAL QUESTIONS 

A is a watchman in charge of several new buildings in 
course of erection. There is a quantity of wood outside the 
buildings. He comes on B, trying to steal the wood and at- 
tacks B with an iron pipe. B, an eighteen-year-old boy, tries to 
defend himself with a stick of wood, but trips and falls, hitting 
his head on the curb, which renders him unconscious. A is 
about to renew the attack, when C interferes, only to receive a 
hlow from A which opens his scalp. C grapples with the watch- 
man and knocks him down where he holds him until the police 
arrive. Explain the principle of law that governs such a case, who 
was subject to arrest and who not, with full reasons. 

Suppose you were informed by a woman that she had over- 
heard A threaten that on the first opportunity he would blow 
the head off B, that he had provided himself with a gun and had 
given every evidence of an intention to do B grievous bodily 
harm. 



250 PRACTICAL POLICE WORK 

What is the policemans full duty? 

Upon what theory does he proceed to act? 

What is the duty of the courts 

(a) In case the charge is not denied? 

(b) In case there is a denial? 

Suppose a magistrate while on his way to court saw an 
altercation between a teamster and the chauffeur of a private 
auto, who accused the teamster of wantonly injuring the auto. 
The teamster left his wagon and assaulted the chauffeur with 
his fists ; then after remounting his wagon gave vent to a stream 
of filthy, coarse and obscene language. There is no policeman 
in sight. 

What is the power of the magistrate in such a case ? What is 
his duty? Give the full procedure. 

( Suppose the chauffeur appeared against the teamster ? 

(b) Suppose he did not? 

What courts have authority to compel offenders to keep the 
peace ? 

For how long? 

What class of offenses is concerned in such cases? 

What exceptions to such a class? 

When is such an undertaking broken? 

What are the penalties for breaking such an undertaking? 

Suppose an officer is given a warrant to execute against A 
employed with five others in a sash factory on the river front, 
^"ar uptown. When A and his associates see the officer they barri- 
cade themselves, refuse him admittance and jeer at him from 
die window. The officer fears if he leaves the place A will es- 
cape across the river. There is a train of freight cars on a sid- 
ing on which there are three or four men. These are the only 
persons nearby. Explain the officer's duty, his powers and re- 
sponsibilities in the case, the offense and penalty connected with 
those in the factory, and the duty of the railroad men, with pen- 
alties for refusal. 

A, an insurance agent, collects several premiums varying in 
amount from $9 to $49, for which he fails to make an account- 
ing. Then he skips the city and is located in Newburg, where 
he is employed. Give the full procedure that must be followed, 
both by the insurance company and by the police, from the time 
he is re-discovered up to the time of trial in order that he may be 
brought to justice. 

In answer to a telephone call crying burglars on a cold night 
three policemen respond. As they reach the block three men 



PRACTICAL POLICE WORK 251 

-are seen to leave the house where the burglary was being com- 
mitted, carrying bundles, and enter the front door of a house 
across the street. The police ring the bell, and not getting a 
prompt response, break in the door just as a man dashed out of 
the basement, is caught, shackled and chained to the areaway 
railing. In the vestibule an angry butler obstructs the police, but 
is brushed aside by the cops, who, entering and seeing a shadow 
cross the yard, shoot at it as a fleeing burglar, which it is not. 
One man is found. Being unable to find the other man, the 
police demand the opening of a vault-like compartment, but the 
butler is unwilling till they threaten to break it down, when he 
produced a key, with which the officer opens the compartment 
and enters. As he did the door sprung shut and locked him in. 
The butler says there is no other key. Nobody else is in the 
liouse. What is each one of the policemen to do? Have they 
been justified in all their acts? If not, where do they err? 
Explain. 

A informs you that he caught B picking his pocket and ar- 
rested him. He denied that A had the right to arrest and re- 
fused to go along. Then he broke away from A and ran into 
a stable, closing and bolting the door. A was about to force the 
door when C arrived and told A to go about his business or he 
would punish him for destroying C's „ property. C was owner 
of the stable. A appeals to a policeman. Explain all the in- 
formation the policeman should give A as to his powers and 
what assistance he should render to A. 



CHAPTER XV 

REPORTS 

The purpose of a report is to test a man's ability to understand 
a subject and convey his knowledge in writing, whether he is 
to narrate a story, describe a condition, discuss a proposition 
or argue for or against a policy. Usually at least two of these 
things are required in the same report. 

Reports are judged principally on account. of the quality and 
quantity of the matter they contain, but to some extent on the 
manner of their construction and the quality of composition. 
While a knowledge of the subject matter is necessary to the 
writing of a good report, a knowledge of construction is neces- 
sary to the writing of a better one. Xobody, therefore, can 
expect the highest marks who neglects the fundamental re- 
quirements for composition. 

The first attention is to be given to the heading containing a 
statement of the writer's address and the date of writing. 
Wrong — January i, 1919, New York City 

Right — Xew York City, January 1, 1919. 

The next thing in a report is the salutation and its position. 
Wrong — Police Commissioner, 

Xew York City. 
Sir: 
Right — The Police Commissioner 

City of New York 
Sir: 
The next step is an introduction, the purpose of which is to 
convey to the person reading it an exact idea of the subject 
matter of the report he is going to make. 

Wrong — I respectfully submit the following report for your 
consideration. 

Right — In obedience to your orders is submitted a report 
of the manner in which the recent garment workers' strike was 
handled by the police of this precinct. 

In the writing of the report the first important rule to be 
observed is to stick to the subject. 

Wrong — The strike was declared on December 19, last. 



2^2 



PRACTICAL POLICE WORK 253 

Its object was to secure an 8-hour day and an increase in wages. 
Many of the employees were of foreign birth and the employer 
took advantage of their ignorance. 

Right — On receipt of notice from Burling Brothers that a 
strike had been declared in their shop, I communicated imme- 
diately with the firm, and made arrangements for co-operation in 
handling the strikers and preventing crime and disorder. The 
firm was notified at the outset that the employment of bullies 
to beat and assault the strikers would not be tolerated. 

The first is not sticking to the subject of handling the strike, 
the second is. 

The body of a report should first have a statement of the 
facts followed by a discussion. The personal opinions of the 
writer should not be inserted at this stage. 

Wrong — The strike, might have been prevented if the 
firm had taken the trouble to consult with the employees and 
find out the cause of discontent. 

Right — Fifty operators from the mechanical departments 
went on strike while eleven operators and seventeen helpers re- 
fused to join them. Those who remained expressed themselves 
as willing to continue to work, if protected, but unwilling to 
run the risk of assault. For that reason it was arranged that all 
should come and go by the same routes, arrive at the shop at 
8 A. M., take their lunches on the premises and leave at 
5 -30 P. M. 

After all the facts are related, there can, in most cases be a 
discussion. A discussion means a weighing of facts. This 
should be done impartially. 

In not sticking to the subject, the common fault lies in taking 
too wide a view of what is asked. When writing upon the 
handling of a strike, a person is not called upon to give all the 
facts about the strike. When giving a plan of handling a strike 
his subject is different from one which describes how the strike 
has been handled. The one is a plan to be put into execution, the 
other a recital of what has already happened. 

The words "in my opinion" should not be inserted in the 
introduction. "In my opinion" expresses a conclusion. They 
belong properly towards the end. 

Hackneyed expressions such as "relative to," "cope with the 
situation," should be avoided, so should the use of small words 
after the sense is already complete. They are merely redundant 
and add nothing to what has been said already. 

Slang expressions and such colloquialisms as "Don't" have 



254 PRACTICAL POLICE WORK 

no place in a written report. Neither should a word be used 
unless the meaning of it is perfectly clear to the writer, nor 
should a sentence be used unless the meaning is clear. To 
make certain of this, it should be read over. 

Police expressions, such as "while I was patrolling my post" 
or "When I arrived on the scene,'' I did so and so, should not 
be used. It is assumed that the man must have been patrolling 
his post, and he could not do things at the scene if he were away 
from it. There is altogether too much use of what is known in 
grammar as the gerund, that is words ending with ing, such as 
"walking along," seeing ahead;" on account of them sometimes 
the sentence and hence the sense is left incomplete. 

The man who believes he can learn to write the best reports 
without good training and long practice is fooling himself. Re- 
port writing is not acquired in a day, a week or a month. If it 
were it would be a small test of a man's intelligence. 

In order that a report be effective, it must not merely con- 
tain good thoughts or interesting statements ; it must be well 
organized as a whole. It cannot be a well organized whole, if 
the writer puts down thoughts or statements at haphazard, just 
as they occur to him. To get good organization, a plan is first 
necessary and he must follow that plan. He must before he 
begins to write, decide on a few topics and on each topic write 
a passage constituting a unit of the whole report. Unless this 
plan of organization is followed the report is likely to be a 
collection of pieces — not a well made whole. The ideas may be 
individually good, but the composition is poor. As in warfare 
a band of men, though strong and brave individually, is collec- 
tively weak unless well organized so a report, though its parts 
may be forcible, is weak as a whole unless well organized. 

Two wheels, a diamond frame, a chain and a pair of handle 
bars all piled in a heap may be good material for a bicycle, but 
they are far from being a good bicycle any more than a series 
of haphazard remarks not organized as a whole make a good 
report. Material belonging in one part of the report should 
not be placed carelessly in another part. 

Conjunctions like "but" and "and" should not be misused 
while care should be taken not to misuse the prepositions "of," 
"for," "by," "from," nor the adverbs, "when," "where," "which," 
"who," "whom." When these are not properly used carelessness 
or ignorance is indicated. They should not be omitted when 
their presence in a sentence or as a connection is called for. 

In writing a report the writer should not shift carelessly be- 



PRACTICAL POLICE WORK 255 

tween the present and past tense. He should decide at the be- 
ginning what tense to use and then use it consistently. The mode 
of expression should also be uniform. "Shall" as a sign of the 
imperative is used in the law. When the law is being para- 
phrased and not quoted directly the mode is changed and "shall" 
is improperly used. 

When the facts have been all discussed, there may be a reca- 
pitulation, a conclusion and sometimes the expression of an opin- 
ion. It should be such an opinion, however, as is the natural 
conclusion that flows from a discussion of the facts and the rea- 
sons advanced. An opinion without facts and reasons is of no 
value. A conclusion that is contrary to the logical one that 
would flow from the facts and their discussion shows poor rea- 
soning. 

Some of the common faults of a report are : 

1. The idea intended is not clearly conveyed. 

2. The thought is not completed in the sentence. 

3. The subject matter of the report is not stuck to through- 
out. 

4. The statements are often incoherent. 

5. The report is not properly organized; materials which 
belong in one place being placed carelessly in another. 

6. Capital letters are used where they should not, and not 
used where they should be. 

7. Two modes of expression and two tenses are often em- 
ployed in the same sentence. 

8. Little attention is given to where a paragraph begins or 
ends. 

9. Statements are too general and therefore lack strength. 
The simplest kind of a report is that in which the writer 

narrates or relates incidents that have happened. More difficult 
is the report calling for a description of a condition, while to 
discuss a subject or to argue for or against a policy is more diffi- 
cult. Still most reports combine both description and discussion. 

When ten facts should be stated it is not enough to state 
three; when the matter can be discussed from three standpoints 
it is not enough to discuss it from one. When a thought can be 
expressed in ten words it is foolish to employ thirty. The more 
padded a report is the weaker it is. 

No fault is more common, more glaring in bad reports nor 
more offensive than the promiscuous use of capital letters. 

Capital letters should begin every sentence, should be used 
where proper names are used, or the days of the week, or the 



256 PRACTICAL POLICE WORK 

month of the year or when an important word like the Charter 
or the Constitution is used, or. when something is quoted, or when 
titles are used and in a few other cases that do not come under 
policemen's use. 

Right — Commissioner Smith was present. 

Either permissible — The Commissioner said so, or 
the commissioner said so. 

Wrong — We work for the City. 

Right — We work for the city. 

Right — We work for the City of New York. 

Wrong — The Executive power is vested in the Mayor. 

Right — The executive power is vested in the mayor. 

Right — Mayor Jones exercises executive power. 

Wrong — I found the child in the Public Highway. 

Right — I found the child in the public highway. 

Wrong — A Policeman's duty is to Prevent Crime. 

Right — A policeman's duty is to prevent crime. 

Wrong — The matter was turned over to the Detectives. 

Right — The matter was turned over to Detective Smith. 

Wrong — I served the Chauffeur with a Summons. 
Right — I served the chauffeur with a summons. 

Since facts are the most necessary element in a report it is 
foolish to expect to make a good report without a knowledge of 
all the pertinent facts and their arrangement in the proper order. 
Assume that the subject of the report was the necessity for ordi- 
nances to prevent unnecessary noises in the streets or other places, 
and the provisions which such ordinances should make. In such 
a case the candidate should set forth, first the conditions that 
make such ordinances necessary including the persons and places 
affected by unnecessary noises ; the agencies that create unneces- 
sary noises and then the* substance of the proposed ordinances. 
The following facts should be woven with greater elaboration 
into such a report. 

Anti-noise ordinances are designed to protect the nervous 
from irritation and consequently to protect the health of the 
public. A person may violate these ordinances either by an act 
or speech or by making unnecessary or unusual noise or disturb- 
ance or when he does anything that aids, countenances or en- 
courages others by a speech that is profane, obscene or vulgar 
if done in public places. The persons injuriously affected must 
be either occupying the public places or in residences adjacent 
to them. Thev must either be annoved or inconvenienced. 



PRACTICAL POLICE WORK 257 

Hospitals and schools are to be particularly protected against 
unnecessary noises, the former because the health of the sick and 
convalescent is liable to injury, the latter because their studies 
would be disturbed. Borough Presidents can put up signs of 
warnings on the corners of the blocks on which they are located 
or pave the streets around them with noise lessening pavement 
while the Police Commissioner can divert all heavy or noisy 
vehicular traffic. Individuals must behave themselves quietly in 
the vicinity of those places and make no unnecessary noises, drive 
vehicles no faster than a walk and obey any regulations the po- 
lice department may prescribe. Peddlers and junkmen and itin- 
erant musicians and organ grinders are not to operate in the im- 
mediate vicinity of these institutions at distances varying accord- 
ing to the operator. They are not to cry wares between hours 
when persons sleep as people want repose nor ring bells, beat 
drums nor make any unusual noise, while steel rails cannot be car- 
ried loose along rough paved streets. 

Courts are to be protected while sitting against any kind of 
noise that would disturb the proceedings, but the courts have the 
power within themselves to give themselves protection. Sick in 
private houses can on occasions get protection if they spread tan 
bark at their own expense outside their homes. Fowls that crow 
early in the morning are barred from residential districts and 
even barking dogs can be suppressed. The blowing of sirens, 
whistles and horns can be stopped. 

The "Plan" is the pivot around which the following report 
revolves : 

Write a report giving a comprehensive plan of dealing with 
a shirt waist makers' strike in your precinct. 

New York, May 1, 1919. 
The Police Commissioner, 
City of New York. 

Sir: Obedient to your instructions, I am submitting a 
plan of police action, to guard against violations of the law, 
arising out of the strike of shirt waist makers at Cohen's factory, 
20 West 40th Street. 

Sixty-seven operators at the 40th Street factory quit work 
yesterday when a demand for higher wages and shorter hours 
had been refused by the firm. Some twenty other employees 
refused to go on strike, and the firm has inserted advertisements 
in the daily papers for workers to take the places of the strikers. 
It would appear, therefore, that a determined effort is to be made 
by both sides to win. Constant and unremitting attention by the 



258 PRACTICAL POLICE WORK 

police will be needed to prevent violence. 

I have formed a plan for giving employees protection while 
coming to and going from the factory, as well as for preserving 
order in the immediate vicinity of the place. To carry this plan 
into effect, four men in uniform, specially assigned are needed 
to cover four avenues of approach to the factory and co-operate 
with the regular policemen on post in preventing workers from 
being assaulted and beaten. 

The strikers in this case are especially difficult to handle. 
They are all' women, all foreigners, excitable and lacking in self- 
control. Few speak or understand the English language and 
most of them are willing and able to fight with the police as well 
as with other workers. Since they cannot be made to understand 
their responsibility trouble is possible. 

By an arrangement with the firm, workers will be assembled 
from four different points, and taken to the factory in automo- 
biles at 8 o'clock each morning. A policeman in uniform will 
accompany each vehicle to protect it from missiles, both coming 
to and going from the shop. 

The strikers will undoubtedly concentrate their efforts on 
keeping new workers from responding to the advertisements. 
These new workers will have to run the gauntlet of seventy odd 
strikers who will picket every block within half a mile of the 
factory, and stop and question every person suspected. Many 
innocent persons 'are likely to be suspected, and there is grave 
danger of some of them being assaulted. The four patrolmen 
specially assigned together with the regular post men and as many 
plain clothes men as conditions call for will be needed to keep the 
pickets in hand and keep them from molesting others. 

The situation is aggravated by the presence of a number of 
parlor socialists who are aiding and advising the women on strike. 
While these may help by advising a compliance with the law, 
their presence is likely to encourage the strikers to acts of vio- 
lence on account of the moral support it gives them. 

The men handling the strike are instructed to use no unneces- 
sary violence towards the women, to show no sympathy with 
either side and to confine their efforts solely to the preservation 
of peace and the protection of life and property. 

Respectfully, 

John Doe, 

Captain iooth Precinct. 



PRACTICAL POLICE WORK 259 

This is a report on traffic problems : 

New York, January 1, 1919. 
The Police Commissioner, 
City of New York. 

Sir : I respectfully submit a report on the problems involved 
in the regulations of traffic in New York City. 

The conditions of traffic involving congestion and needing 
correction are of two kinds, pedestrian and vehicular. Pedes- 
trians cross the streets at points other than cross walks, often 
run along without looking, read books or papers while crossing, 
hold up umbrellas which obstruct their view and frequently stop 
to converse with friends in the middle of the roadway. They 
step on and off cars while in motion, pass behind vehicles without 
looking for the approach of another vehicle from the opposite 
direction, and frequently get excited in the roadway on the ap- 
proach of a fast moving automobile, which brings about mental 
confusion and frequent injury through collision. Boys and chil- 
dren play games in the streets, jump on and off moving trucks 
and cars, roller skate on the asphalt pavement, coast down hills 
in winter and operate pushmobiles on the pavement. The road- 
beds of crowded streets in busy sections are frequently used by 
persons afoot which often results in collision and injury. 

The concentration of large numbers of employees in certain 
buildings congests the sidewalk at certain hours of the day. This 
is particularly true of the large office buildings on narrow streets 
in the commercial district of lower Manhattan, the loft buildings 
in the vicinity of Madison Square and the theatres and depart- 
ment stores of the Times Square district. 

Drivers of vehicles drive recklessly, often leave their teams 
unattended in the roadway, pass on the wrong side of the street, 
pass too close to unloading street cars, cut corners, stop on street 
crossings and at other places without warning, turn in the middle 
of the block, back up to the curb while loading and unloading and 
fail to keep proper control of their horses or motors. Vehicles 
are sometimes operated by men intoxicated, by men without suffi- 
cient training, and by immature children. Chauffeurs are espe- 
cially disposed to operate their cars at an excessive rate of speed 
and at night time without proper lights. Their brakes are fre- 
quently defective and their warning devices out of order. 

Owing to the millions of persons, visitors and commuters 
who enter and leave the city daily, traffic, both vehicular and 
pedestrian, is at times greatly congested at the railroad stations 
and in the vicinity of the most prominent ferries. 



260 PRACTICAL POLICE WORK 

The conditions enumerated cause collisions between vehicles, 
between pedestrians and vehicles and between one person and 
another. They cause persons to fall down, to be run over, 
injured and killed, property to be damaged and destroyed, and 
traffic to be delayed, impeded and stopped to the detriment and 
inconvenience of the travelling public. Children are sometimes 
injured, maimed and killed, and business of all kinds is subjected 
to loss and irreparable injury. 

The remedy for the foregoing conditions lies in education, 
regulation and punishment. Education can best be imparted 
through a bureau specially established to teach both pedestrians 
and drivers of vehicles how to observe the rights of others. This 
can best be done by the distribution of pamphlets teaching them 
what to do and what to avoid, by the distribution of posters 
illustrating how accidents occur, by having lectures in places 
where people are likely to assemble such as stables, garages, 
schools and department stores and by means of slides in moving 
picture houses. 

Regulation of traffic conditions can be accomplished by the 
adoption of proper ordinances by the Board of Aldermen supple- 
mented by more detailed rules for the regulation of traffic, the 
maintenance of a traffic squad charged with the strict enforce- 
ment of such rules and ordinances. 

Finally the establishment and maintenance of a traffic court, 
specially equipped and presided over by magistrates with an inti- 
mate knowledge of the law, the conditions within the city and 
of the disposition of violators who will administer even punish- 
ment will result in improvement of the conditions complained of. 

Respectfully, 

The three subsequent reports relate to matters on which it is 
the duty of the police to take action and report. This variety is 
an easy sort of report to write, yet the ratings on such reports 
are just as wide as on any other. This is because the condi- 
tions are not unusually well stated, the manner of the happen- 
ing not well described and the action not properly set forth. 

In one material respect the reports differ. The causes of the 
street accidents is set forth in detail, that of the building accident 
is not. In the one the policeman saw what had happened and 
was in a position to state facts from his own knowledge. In the 
other he was not in such a position since he did not know the 
cause and another department is responsible for that duty. 



PRACTICAL POLICE WORK 261 

New York, May 1, 1919. 

Commanding Officer, 100th Precinct. 

Dear Sir : I respectfully submit a report of a collision be- 
tween an automobile and a United States mail wagon which oc- 
curred at 42nd Street and Madison Avenue at 10 o'clock this 
morning. 

While passing south on Madison Avenue my attention was 
called to an automobile descending the hill on Madison Avenue 
between 41st and 42nd Street. The chauffeur was sounding his 
horn furiously and the car was going at a speed which indicated 
that the brakes were not working properly. Several other ve- 
hicles were in the block at the time, the drivers of which saw 
the danger and managed to get out of the way. 

A U. S. mail wagon was going east on 42nd Street. The driver 
looked at the approaching automobile, kept on his course leisurely 
and made no effort to avoid being struck. The automobile struck 
the front wheel of the mail wagon and overturned it, throwing 
the driver into the street. The hood and radiator of the automo- 
bile were crumpled in, and the chauffeur was thrown through the 
wind shield to the street. Two women who were passengers irt 
the automobile were thrown forward from the tonnau, cut by 
flying glass and otherwise injured. 

I told Patrolman Jones who was present to call an ambulance 
and notify the station while I went to the aid of those who were 
injured. I picked up the driver of the mail wagon who mur- 
mured "I had the right of way" and then became unconscious. 
With the aid of some citizens he was carried to the drugstore 
on the corner. 

I found the chauffeur bruised, bleeding and unconscious and 
had him removed to the drugstore also. Meantime other citizens 
had been ministering to the two women who were still in the 
wreck of the automobile. They were both hysterical and suffer- 
ing from shock and cuts when the ambulance arrived. They, too, 
were taken to the drugstore and treated. They refused to go to 
a hospital and were sent home in a taxi-cab. One of them before 
leaving, reported the loss of a lady's Tiffany gold watch. 

The driver and chauffeur were removed to Bellevue Hospital, 
still unconscious. The driver of the mail wagon was made a 
prisoner on my complaint and put in the custody of Officer 
Jones. An employee of John Adams, the mail contractor, arrived 
and took charge of the mail wagon ; the automobile was safe- 
guarded pending an examination by a department expert. De- 



262 PRACTICAL POLICE WORK 

-"■ • 

tective Griffith who appeared, took charge of the search for the 
watch. The names of all the parties concerned are as follows : 

Respectfully, 

New York, N. Y., October 4, 19 16. 
The Commanding Officer, 

Twenty-third Precinct. 

Dear Sir: I respectfully submit a report of a collision in 
which a delivery wagon, an automobile and a street car were 
concerned which took place on 42nd Street east of 5th Avenue at 
n o'clock this morning in my presence, and which resulted in 
injuries to eight persons and damage to the vehicles which 
collided. 

At the time the accident occurred 42nd Street was crowded 
with vehicles and the sidewalks with pedestrians. A new building 
is in course of erection on the southeast corner of the street and 
5th Avenue. The sidewalk is covered over at that point and the 
supports obstruct both street and sidewalk. Part of the space 
opposite was occupied by a stationary sand and material wagon 
while there was a large hole on the south side of the street extend- 
ing along from the sidewalk covering. Lined along the north 
side of the street were five taxis, six automobiles, a horse cab 
and a repair wagon. On the south side, backing up against the 
curb, was a coal wagon delivering coal to 16 E. 42nd Street with 
a repair wagon immediately to the west. At that point where 
the accident happened, there is a switch rail for switching cars 
from one car track to the other. A large delivery wagon belong- 
ing to the Loft Candy Manufacturing concern added to the 
congestion. 

The delivery wagon started across the street to the north 
just as a green street car was being switched from the east to 
the west bound track. The car slipped on the greasy rails, got 
beyond control of the motorman and struck the wagon in the 
center, unseating the driver and throwing him into the street. 
The horses took fright, sprang forward, and smashed into a seven- 
passenger automobile going east. The automobile was upset and 
the passengers thrown into the excavation which the contractors 
had dug on the south side of the street. 

I summoned an ambulance immediately. When one ar- 
rived from Bellevue Hospital, the injured persons had been re- 
moved to Riker's drugstore opposite. Three of them were re- 
moved to the hospital ; the others sent home. 

With the aid of officers, so and so. I cleared the street and 



PRACTICAL POLICE WORK 263 

after a lapse of twenty minutes, traffic was resumed. 

The following are the names and dispositions of the persons 
concerned in the accident and witnesses : 

Respectfully submitted, 

Write a report of 350 words, describing the collapse of a 
building on your post, the results of the collapse and the action 
you took. 

New York, N. Y., August 8, 1919. 
The Police Commissioner, 
City of New York. 

Sir : I respectfully submit the following report on the 
collapse of an apartment house at 150th Street and Moore Avenue, 
this morning and the action taken by me in consequence. 

I learned at 10 A. M., while on my post a block away, that 
the Calton Apartments in course of erection at the above address 
had collapsed. When I reached the place a minute later I found 
that the front walls had tumbled into the street and carried: 
with them the four floors already up. The scaffolding was 
buried under a pile of debris as were also most of the men who 
had been at work on the building. 

From Scott's drugstore, next door, I telephoned to the station 
house and asked for reserves. When I returned to the building 
I found about twenty persons there, staring at the ruins . but 
doing little to help those buried beneath the brick and mortar. I 
directed them to begin at once to clear away the debris as many 
of the buried workmen were still probably alive. They responded 
very willingly and in another minute or so had rescued eleven 
men of whom ten were living. 

In response to my call, Lieut. Dillon appeared with ten pa- 
trolmen. Soon afterward the Fire Department men arrived, 
and the work of rescue was prosecuted vigorously. Ultimately 
twenty persons were taken out of whom only two were dead. 

Ambulances from the Hope, Mercy and Rescue Hospitals 
arrived promptly and the physicians ordered seven persons to the 
hospitals and allowed eleven to go to their homes. John Jones, 
10 Frankfort Street, and Frank Fox, 18 Hill Street, were pro- 
nounced dead and their bodies sent to the morgue. The names 
of the injured and their disposition is herewith submitted. 

The Carlton Apartments have been under construction since 
June 1 by Dodge Brothers, builders and contractors of 11 11 
Broadway. They were to be eight stories on a plot 75 x 100. 
At various times during the work I have seen Inspectors Smith 



264 PRACTICAL POLICE WORK 

and Kenny making inspections. Xo reports of the unsafety of 
the building reached me prior to the collapse. The building has 
been taken charge of by the Building Department. 

Respectfully, 

The following report written by a Police Lieutenant is worth 
at least 95% : 

New York, N. Y., March 31, 1919. 
The Municipal Civil Service Commission, 
City of New York. 

Sirs : In obedience to your orders I submit a report on the 
difficulties of handling crowds on very important occasions, such 
as big parades, when large numbers of citizens congregate here. 

Various causes may be assigned for such difficulties, but the 
following are the primary ones : 

1. Geographical formation of the city; making it difficult to 
distribute the traffic equally on all streets. 

2. Volume of shipping at the port of New York. 

3. Streets too narrow to accommodate crowds which as- 
semble on occasions of any demonstration. 

4. Necessity of keeping certain streets open for fire, ambu- 
lance and street car traffic. 

5. Unwillingness of certain residents to comply with the 
orders of the Police Department. 

6. Lack of proper material with which to fence off certain 
streets or squares when it is necessary, for properly policing 
them. 

7. Lack of foresight by members of the Police Force who 
are intrusted with the formulation of plans for policing large 
processions or assemblages. 

8. Unwillingness of magistrates to punish offenders brought 
before them by policemen for violations of laws and ordinances in 
connection with parades or assemblages. 

That all those difficulties may be overcome, a comprehensive 
plan of policing each large assemblage or parade should be for- 
mulated before the event so that all officers and men assigned 
to the duty of handling them will have sufficient time to famil- 
iarize themselves with it. The method of policing each parade 
or assemblage by itself will have to be considered, because the 
conditions of each will be different. 

Large parades should be given permits for wide streets where 
the crowds that assemble to view it will have sufficient room to 
stand on sidewalk and roadway without interfering with the 



PRACTICAL POLICE WORK 265 

passage of the parade. Small parades and small assemblages for 
any purpose should be directed to march or congregate where 
they will inconvenience other citizens least. 

Necessary wire cables and stanchions should be provided, so 
that streets or squares might be roped off if the emergency arose. 

in cases of great congestion of persons on sidewalk or road- 
way, policemen should be placed a block away from the occupied 
street or avenue at the intersection of right angled streets to 
direct the pedestrian traffic. 

In military parades such as that of the 27th Division, the 
military authorities should be requested to police the line of 
march on both sides. This would release members of the police 
force for duty in rear of lines of pedestrians and at intersecting 
streets where they could prevent crowding and, if necessary, 
stop all pedestrians' traffic to the line of march. 

All Police Department automobiles should be mobilized at a 
convenient location so that they could be lined up at any point 
where the police lines were giving way, before the lines broke. 
Automobiles lined closely together prove an effective barrier 
against any on-rush of citizens. 

A mounted detail should also be placed where it would be 
easily accessible. Mounted policemen are very effective in hold- 
ing police lines. This is due to fear by citizens of being trampled 
upon by horses. 

A reserve force of officers and men sufficient to cope with 
any emergency likely to arise should be placed in a convenient 
place (station house) along the line of march where they can be 
procured in a few minutes. 

It is not necessary to describe the duty of each police official 
here. This is done by written orders, and no one can plead ig- 
norance of them as an excuse. 

Respectfully, 

In the. following report on a comparison of the Bertilon and 
finger print systems of identification, 350 words only are used 
because the subject can be compared in that number of words. 
While the sentences are rounded out there is no waste of words. 

Both systems are described, then the advantages of the finger 
print system are pointed out and finally there is a conclusion in 
accordance with the arguments, and the only logical conclusion 
that could be made on the statements in the report. 

The report is .not long because the subject is fully covered in 



266 PRACTICAL POLICE WORK 

the space taken and any more writing would be in the nature 
of padding. 

Feb. 25, 1915. 
John Doe. 

Dear Sir : I respectfully submit a report comparing the finger 
print system with the Bertillon system for identifying criminals. 

The Bertilon system is based upon the fundamental fact that 
no two persons are alike in size, shape, physical appearance or 
peculiarities of the body. It is put in use by the taking of certain 
measurements of the individual such as height, chest and waist 
girth, length of the arms, legs, fingers, nose and different parts of 
the human body. It includes also the making note of birthmarks, 
.scars, deformities and peculiarities of the mouth formation, as 
well as of the ears, nose eyebrows, teeth, chin and face, including 
the face wrinkles. In addition to these the record made takes in 
a statement of the person's weight, his habits, style of walking 
and posture in sitting, method of speaking, and all peculiarities 
of manner, speech or personal behavior. 

Like the Bertilon system the finger print method of identifi- 
cation is based upon the fact that no two persons are physically 
alike. It takes in all the good features of the Bertilon system* 
■but it has the additional merit that comes from the fact that 
physical characteristics noted by the system do not undergo change 
in the person identified. It is put in use by smearing the fingers 
with printers' ink, or by placing the fingers on a slab previously 
smeared, rolling them around until properly smeared and then 
rolling the fingers over white paper to which the impression rs 
imparted. 

The finger print system is the better of the two because it 
leaves a print of the patterns of the skin ridges which never 
change but remain permanently fixed while the person lives. 
With the Bertilon system records are taken of measurements 
which do change with time. A man often may grow stout or 
thin, his height decrease, his appearance alter, his habits vary, his 
peculiarities disappear until identification through former charac- 
teristics becomes impossible. With the finger print system rec- 
ords are taken of marks which time does not alter nor efface. 
It is therefore the better and more dependable of the two. 

Respectfully. 

No kind of report is more often asked for than that which 
calls for the advantages and disadvantages of a certain system 



PRACTICAL POLICE WORK 267 

The following is a sample : 

New York, N. Y. Feb. 11, 191 5. 
The Police Commissioner, 
City of Xew York. 

Sir : In obedience to orders, I respectfully submit my 
views on the advantages and disadvantages of the system of al- 
lowing policemen to interview the Commissioner directly, instead 
of waiting for permission to be given through official channels. 

Advantages: The Police Commissioner will get information 
first hand. He will get more thorough reports on any subject 
of importance than could possibly come to him through formal 
reports. He will gain a better undo standing of the men under 
his command, their wants and necessities ; he will be able to 
learn more of the peculiar conditions in each precinct, get different 
viewpoints of his commanding officers and their suitability for 
different grades of work. Through this means he can improve 
police conditions by placing officers where they can work to the 
best advantage and remove to more suitable places the men whose 
work is unsatisfactory. 

The ordinary patrolman from his practical experience may 
have valuable ideas of the best methods of improving certain 
police conditions. 

Patrolmen may have personal grievances arising out of tem- 
perament which may not be agreeable to that of a superior. A 
man with a grievance is usually a poor policeman and the trouble 
can sometimes be cured by separating the men, or admonishing 
both to forget their troubles and remember that they have better 
and more important work to do. 

Disadvantages: The Police Commissioner is a busy man. He 
has nearly 11,000 men under him and were even a small frac- 
tion of these to seek personal interviews other important duties 
would have to be neglected. Some men are likely to abuse the 
privilege by carrying to him trivial complaints. If the Commis- 
sioner should not be a strong-minded man he might lose his sense 
of proportion and give too much attention to the stories of 
trouble makers and those who carry scandal. Such a man might 
undermine discipline through giving ear to gossip and rumor 
and believing what he had heard without investigation. Com- 
manding officers would become afraid of their own men and 
police conditions would be likely to suffer. 

Conclusions: With the right kind of man for Police Com- 
missioner, one who can separate the trifling from the important, 
get from men what they know without waste of time, the system 



268 PRACTICAL POLICE WORK 

of direct interview affords a means of supplying the Commissioner 
with a knowledge of police conditions which otherwise could 
not be by him obtained. 

Respectfully submitted, 

The following report is on a complaint referred for investi- 
gation by the Police Commissioner : 

New York, January i, 1919. 
The Police Commissioner, 
City of New York. 
. Sir : Concerning the complaint of Patrolman Jones of 
this precinct, alleging discrimination on the part of his associate 
officers, the following report is submitted: 

The complaint which came from your office on the 7th inst. 
states that since December 18, 1918, no member of the various 
squads has spoken to him, that on various occasions his equip- 
ment has been hidden, that his memorandum pad has been 
scratched up to such an extent as to be unfit for use, that on 
several occasions his bed linen has been soiled, that false entries 
have been made in his memorandum book and that he has re- 
lieved intimations from a source outside the Department that if 
he does not get a transfer "the gang will get him." 

Jones is of the opinion that the motive for the conduct of 
the other officers towards him lies in a steadfast refusal on his 
part to join the Patrolmen's Association and too great a readi- 
ness on his part to tell superiors of the delinquencies of his as- 
sociates. 

In substantiation of his charges Jones cites the fact that on 
January 8, 9 and 10 his pistol was taken from his pocket, his 
nippers concealed under the bed clothes and his billy dropped 
behind a panel. He submitted his memorandum book for in- 
spection bearing pencil marks criss crossed with entries not in 
his handwriting containing false and misleading statements con- 
cerning the facts originally entered there. He called attention to 
a complaint made by him to Sergeant Brown concerning the 
matters spoken of, cited Mary Smith, the bed maker, as a 
witness of the soiling of his bed clothes and Frank Fox, a drug- 
gist at Ninth Street and Madison Avenue, as authority for the 
statement that his brother officers had conspired to injure him. 

From the Sergeant, the bed maker and the condition of the 
memorandum book I was able to get corroboration of Jones's 
story. Fox, the druggist, however, said that the policeman 
had misunderstood him while none of the officers would admit 



PRACTICAL POLICE WORK 269 

either a conspiracy to give him the "silent treatment" or to do 
him other harm. Each admitted not being on speaking terms 
with Jones but denied the allegation that trouble had begun on 
the date mentioned or was due to the causes alleged. Patrolman 
Swift said Jones was disagreeable and they had not exchanged 
words in a year; Patrolman Toms gave a private quarrel as the 
reason for his refusal to converse with Jones. Others said that 
the officer was sulky, a few merely stated that he was "no good." 
In fact each member of the squad gave a different reason for his 
own conduct towards Smith and .all of them admitted a personal 
feeling of unfriendliness. Each, however, denied any precon- 
certed action and no one would admit knowledge or connection 
with the acts .of annoyance to which Jones was subjected. 

As a result of my investigations I am satisfied that there is a 
basis of truth in the charges, in fact that all the acts complained 
of have been committed. I am also satisfied that the motives 
stated are not the correct motives but that the real reason for 
the conduct of the men is Jones's own personality. He has at 
various times complained to me of persecution. In fact he 
thinks himself a martyr to duty. While he has made insinua- 
tions against other members of the force he has never carried to 
me any real information of delinquencies on their part. There 
can, therefore, be no substantial grounds for his suspicions on 
that score. The men say they do not want him in the Patrol- 
men's Association as he would be a trouble maker. I am, there- 
fore, of the opinion that the motives he alleges are entirely 
incorrect. 

Since it would be detrimental to discipline to grant his re- 
quest at the present time, I would recommend that the matter be 
left in my hands for the present and that he be not transferred, 
as except for his unfortunate disposition he is a good policeman. 
If conditions do not improve I shall submit another recommen- 
dation. 

Respectfully, 

It will be seen that since a complaint is the basis for the 
making of this report, the substance of the complaint should 
first be set forth. It is not necessary to give the complaint in 
extenso. The investigations, however, should be described in 
detail but the manner of making them should not, while the per- 
sonality of the investigator should be subordinated. 

This report calls for conclusions and recommen 'ations, an 1 
it would be incomplete unless both were given. 



2/0 PRACTICAL POLICE WORK 

The next report relates to the value of blank summonses and 
the restrictions on their use. It differs from the previous report 
inasmuch as it calls only for a statement of the purposes and of 
the restrictions. Since the practice has obviously taken the place 
of something else, a short history of the subject is first properly 
set out. This is followed by the statements called for in the 
directions and brief conclusions, the whole making a report of 
about 400 words. 

New York, November 29, 19 16. 
[Municipal Civil Service Commission, 
City of New York. 

Gentlemen: I respectfully submit a report on the general 
and specific purposes served by the issuance of summonses to 
policemen in blank under proper restrictions as provided by the 
Inferior Courts Act. 

Summonses are issued and served for the purpose of bringing 
into court persons charged with minor infractions of law, without 
subjecting them to the hardships of summary arrest. There are 
two authorities for the issuance of summonses, that which belongs 
inherently in the courts themselves and that which is derived from 
the inferior courts' law. 

Prior to the enactment of the Inferior Courts Law there 
was some question raised as to the right of magistrates to issue 
summonses for minor offenses. That question was settled by the 
law passed in 19 10 which specifically gave to magistrates author- 
ity to issue summonses for violations of the motor vehicle law 
and of corporation ordinances. This law provided also that sum- 
monses could be issued in book form and given to peace officers 
to be served by them when the violations occurred in their pres- 
ence. The effect of this provision is to enable the courts to get 
jurisdiction of minor offenders without subjecting them to the in- 
convenience, the humiliation and the punishment connected with 
actuai arrest. They are served subject to the provision that 
offenders are able to identify themselves. The practise has the 
additional merit of saving the time of the offender, of the police- 
man, desk officer and of a lot of other officials which would be 
taken up necessarily in a stretch of routine work in the event of 
an arrest. 

Unrestricted use of summonses might result in their being 
put to the purpose of extortion by corrupt and unscrupulous 
officers. To provide against this contingency rules have been 
adopted by the Police Commissioner. These rules provide that 



PRACTICAL POLICE WORK 271 

all summonses must be accounted for and when a summons is 
lost or mutilated the fact must be reported by the officer without 
delay. 

In the case of motor cycle officers additional precautions are 
taken. The exact time of service, the specific violation and 
the name and address of the person served must be entered on 
the stub in ink or indelible pencil before the summons is filled 
out and the exact time of service has to be put on the summons 
itself, the desk officer has to be notified immediately and furnished 
with the serial number of the summons, the exact time and place 
of service, the specific offense and the name and address of the 
person summoned. These facts have to be recorded in the blot- 
ter and the stub itself turned in at the end of the policeman's 
tour of duty. 

The foregoing precautions are designed to prevent a policeman 
from changing, tearing up or taking back a summons and thus 
prevent a corrupt collusion batwene the policeman and the 
offender by which the latter would be able to escape punishment. 

Write a report giving a comprehensive plan of dealing with a 
shirt waist makers' strike in your precinct. 

Effects of Prohibition 

New York, January 10, 1920. 
The Police Commissioner, 
City of New York. 

Sir : In obedience to orders is submitted a report on the 
probable effect of the Prohibition Law on the morals of the 
community and the work of the police. 

There are about six thousand (6,000) places in this city 
where alcoholic liquor is sold to be consumed on the premises. 
The majority of them are conducted in a respectable and orderly 
manner, the patrons are respectable men and women who when 
they use alcohol, do so in moderation. Many of such places 
will be driven out of business by prohibition, the patrons incon- 
venienced, financial loss will be suffered by the proprietors, and 
the community at large will not be benefited to any great extent. 
Some other places are neither respectable nor orderly ; the pat- 
rons are principally vicious, immoral, intemperate, and criminal. 
In them the weak father, son, or daughter finds temptation that 
lea 's to ruin. These places will not attract patrons when they 
cannot supply liquor consequently they will go out of business. 



272 PRACTICAL POLICE WORK 

the community will benefit and the work of the police will be 
decreased. 

There are about fifty (50,000) thousand persons employed 
in the sale of liquor in this city who have one hundred thousand 
others depending on them for support. Many of those will 
lose employment through prohibition ; those who do and who are 
law abiding will seek other employment. If because of inexper- 
ience or physical condition they are unable to get it they will 
become public charges. Some who will lose their employment 
are neither respectable nor law abiding, particularly owners of or 
bartenders in tough saloons and hotels. These will not all seek 
honest employment, but try to gain a livelihood by unlawfully 
manufacturing, selling liquor or narcotics, keeping gambling or 
disorderly houses. 

There are about six hundred (600,000) thousand persons in 
this city who use liquor moderately or excessively. The moder- 
ate users will adapt themselves to prohibition — offending once 
in a while perhaps by using liquor when they can procure it with 
safety, or by manufacturing it in their homes in small quantities 
for home consumption. The excessive users will obtain it if 
possible, drink it to excess when it can be obtained and resort to 
the use of narcotic drugs when it cannot, with the result that 
unless persistent police efforts are made to stop the practise, the 
number of drug fiends will be enormously increased. In addi- 
tion a great many persons tempted by the large profits, will 
manufacture, sell, procure, or distribute alcoholic liquor unlaw- 
fully. It will be principally manufactured in the tenement sec- 
tions of the city, and in garages, stables, cellars and outhouses 
in all sections of the city particularly in the farming sections. 
It will be smuggled into the city from foreign countries and from 
the suburban localities. It will be sold in hotels, candy stores, 
restaurants, tenement houses, barber shops, bowling alleys, drug- 
stores, groceries, etc. It will be procured by bell hops, hack 
drivers, chauffeurs, waiters, etc., and it will be drunk by the 
people who have always drunk it. 

To cope with the conditions described the police force should 
help to get employment for all persons who lose their jobs through 
prohibition and who need aid ; organize a special squad to deal 
with this particular law, get the co-operation of the Inspectors 
of License, Health, Tenement and Fire Departments in detect- 
ing violations, also the Police Reserves and public spirited 
citizens ; co-operate with Federal officers in guarding steamboat 
landings and railway terminals to prevent smuggling, arrest all 



PRACTICAL POLICE WORK 273 

persons found intoxicated and try to learn where they procured 
the liquor; pay special attention to localities in which persons are 
often found intoxicated, establish a bicycle patrol to prevent 
smuggling into the city, make special effort to prevent the unlaw- 
ful sale or use of narcotics, drugs, etc. 

If the police force act intelligently and persistently the pro- 
hibition law will probably improve the morals of the community, 
decrease poverty and crime, lessen the work of the police, and 
make this city and the United States a more prosperous, healthful 
and happier place for this and future generations to live in. 

But there is a tradition that no unpopular law ever proved a 
blessing. 

Respectfully, 

Sometimes reports are put in the art class or the scientific 
class. A policeman's report belongs in the scientific class. He 
should deal only with hard facts, cold reason and logical conclu- 
sions. 

In the other kind of report different qualities are brought 
into play. Imagination , satire, figures of speech, humor, pathos, 
irony and many others. These, however, must be eschewed by 
policemen. They must not attempt to imitate the style of the sen- 
sational newspaper, nor even the style of the humorous story 
such as is sometimes indulged in, but in other respects the style 
of the editorial columns is worth imitating. So is the style of 
any serious article where facts are given and conclusions drawn. 



NOTE 

By the laws of 1919 it is made vagrancy to secure another 
for the purpose of prostitution, to receive another, to offer one, 
agree to receive another into a structure that passes for a building 
for such purpose, knowingly permit such one to remain or aid 
and abet in any of the acts enumerated in Section 887, Subdi- 
vision 4 of the Criminal Code. A common prostitute is almost 
made a vagrant. 



INDEX 



Abduction 21-148 

Abortion 149 

Adultery 150 

Advertisements 82 

Advertisements Using National or State, flag in 189 

Aliens, Deportation of 1 12-162 

Ambassador Foreign Arrest of 47 

Anarchist Assembly of in 

Anarchy Criminal 22-1 10 

Animal Laws applying generally to 23-203 

Ante Mortem Statement 89 

Arrest by surety 47 

Arrest, for Violation of Parole , 47 

Arrest, General on 46 

Arrest, Law of 43-50 

Arrest, Members of Police Force wilfully neglecting to 

make an 49 

Arrest, of an habitual criminal 46 

Arrest, on a ship 48 

Arrest, of a material witness , 47 

Arrest, of a United States Deserter 46 

Arrest, on day of public election , . . 46 

Arrest, on Magistrate's order 46 

Arrest, on a Certificate of a warrant 46 

Arrest, on a Warrant 45 

Arrest, Refusal to make an 40 

Arrest, Persons exempt from 49 

Arrest, Time limit to 48 

Arrest, Use of force in making 45 

Arrest, without a warrant 43. 

Arson 82 

Assault 86 

Assault Division of 88 

Assembly in street Right of 107 

Auctions Mock 144 



B 



Bail Acceptance of in station house 51 

Bail Questions on 53 

Bail Security disposition of 53 

Bigamy 150 

Blackmail 21-128 

Blackmail and Extortion, Crime of . 21-126 

Bribery How Committed 27-135 

Bribery of labor representatives 135 

Bucket Shops 170 

Burglar tools, Possession of 119 

275 



Burglary 23-118 

Burglary Investigation 122 

Burglary Psychology of 120 

Burglar Tools 119 

Business Crimes 35 



Chauffeurs, Law relative to 199 

Children Abandonment of 187 

Children defined 184 

Children Extracts from Penal Law, Federal and Ordi- 
nances Relative to 184 

Children General on 22 

Children Unlawful employment of 186 

Civil Rights 147 

Coercion 32 

Confession by defendant , 65 

Conspiracy 24-113 

Corroboration, To secure, conviction 67 

Court, Action of officer when case is called 61 

Court, Action by officer in Magistrate's 61 

Court, Childrens 59 

Court, Contempt of 64 

Court, County 60 

Court, Divisions of 56 

Court, Domestic Relations 58 

Court, General Sessions 60 

Court, In which prisoner is to be arraigned 58 

Court, Jurisdiction of Magistrates 56 

Court, jurisdiction of Special Sessions 59 

Court, Magistrates 56 

Court, Municipal Term 57 

Court, Magistrates, Power of, general on 58 

Court, Duties 61 

Court, Supreme 60 

Court, Traffic 58 

Crime, Accessory to 4 2 

Crime, Attempt to commit 42 

Crime, Criminal Liability 3 2_ 7 T 

Crime, Division of . . . 4 1 

Crime, What is a 40 

Criminal, Anarchy 22- no 

Criminal, Habitual 46 

Crowds, The psychology of 107 

Crime, Compounding 23-81 



Dangerous Weapons, Carrying of 28-101 

Deserter United States Army Arrest of 46 

Disguised and masked persons 32-112 

Disorderly conduct > . 24-116 

Disorderly Houses, securing evidence to convict 158 

Disorderly house 157 

276 



Disorderly persons 1 14 

Disorderly resorts, General in regard to 159 

Disorderly saloons, etc., Securing evidence against...... 159 

Divorce, Advertising to procure 85 

Drug Addicts Symptoms presented by 176 

Drug Dealers, Registered Evidence against 178 

Drugs, General Law relating to doctors and veterinary 

surgeons 181 

Drugs, How illicit dealers dispose of 177 

Dying Statement 89 



E 



Election Day, Arrest on 46 

Election Primary 192 

Election, General Law relating to 34-191 

Election, Registration, investigations 195 

Entry, Unlawful 119 

Evidence, Kinds of 69 

Evidence, Law of 65 

Evidence, Points in 67 

Evidence, Marking 70 

Evidence, Violation of Law relative to 70 

Examinations 7 

Exhibitions 183-205 

Extortion, Blackmail, Crime of 126 

Extortion 21-126 

Extortion, Differs from Robbery 134 

Extortion Under Color of official right 127 

Extradition 36-77 

Extradition International 79 



Fake Balls, Selling tickets for 144 

Fake Charitable institutions 144 

Fake Sisters of Charity 143 

False Messages, Publishing 145 

Falsely Personating another 146 

Felony on merchant vessel 48 

Firearms, Possession of, defined 101 

Flag, National or State used in advertising 189 

Force or violence, When not unlawful 103 

Foreign Ambassador, Arrest of 47 

Forgery 24-141 

Fugitive from Justice 48 

Frauds and Cheats 142 



Gambling 25-164 

Gambling, Action of policeman in suppressing 169 

Gambling houses, Procedure in obtaining evidence against. 164 

277 



H 



Habitual Criminal, Arrest of 46 

Handbills, advertisements, etc 87 

Handbookmen 169 

Homicide, Action at scene of 92 

Homicide, ballroom, etc 92 

Homicide, Body found in vacant lot 95 

Homicide, Clothing and jewelry found on body 93 

Homicide, Division of 89 

Homicide, Duty of desk officer 94 

Homicide, Excusable 91 

Hmicide, Justifiable 92 

Homicide, Private premises, Detective duty 97 

Homicide, Street duty 95 

Hotel Act, The 157 

Hotel Keepers, Frauds on 145 

Hypodermic syringes 176 



Immoral plays and exhibitions 151 

Impersonating policemen, etc 146 

Incest 150 

Indecent print or pictures 151 

Indecency 25-150 

Institution for care of cildren 187 

Institution, Public, Enticing inmates from 183 

Intoxication 26 



J 

Jury Grand 59 

K 

Kidnapping r 21-183 



t 

Larceny, Crime of 20-136 

Larceny, Division of * 139 

Larceny, How to Ascertain value of property stolen 139 

Law, General principles of 19 

Larceny, Seizing Military goods belonging to State 140 

Learn, How to 13 

Letters and Telegrams, Law on 147 

Liability notice, Service of 36-160-170 

Lights, Motor vehicle^ 201 

Lineup for identification 69 

Lottery 25-168 

278 



M 



Magistrate, Arrest on order of .' 46 

Malicious Mischief (Railroad Law) 19-190 

Malicious Mischief, Who is guilty of 187 

Manslaughter denned 90 

Marriages, By falsely impersonating another 153 

Marriages, By force menace, etc 152 

Marriages, Solemnizing unlawful 152 

Masquerades, Police action 112 

Massage institutes and operators 163 

Material witness, Arrest of 47 

Mock Auctions 144 

Modus Operandi File 120 

Morals, Crimes against 21 

Motor Vehicle, Injury by 207 

Motor Vehicle, Operated while Intoxicated 201 

Motor Vehicle Law 198 

Motorcycle Law 202 



N 



Narcotics . . 33-171 

Narcotics, Definitions of 180 

Narcotics, Penal Law relating to 181 

Narcotics, Public hospitals and dispensaries 176 

Narcotics, Requirements as a dentist 175 

Narcotics, Retail apothecaries , 172 

Narcotics, Wholesalers and Manufacturers of 172 

National Flag, Use of in advertising 189 

Nuisances 26-181 



Obscene print or articles 151 

Ordinance, How enforced 214 

Ordinances, See question on 222 



P 

Parole, ' Violation of Arrest for 47 

Pawnbrokers 196 

Perjury 27 

Person, Crime against the 19 

Persons, Exempt from arrest 40 

Persons, Punishable criminally 32 

Police, Function of 39 

Policy . , 165 

Pool selling, book making, etc 166 

Poolrooms, Points on obtaining evidence against 166 

Prisoner, Aiding to escape 17 

Prisoner, Lineup of 69 

Prisoner, Escaping 50 

279 



Prisoner, Rescue of 49 

Property, Crime against : 20 

Prostitutes, Alien , 162 

Prostitutes, General regarding 36 

Prostitutes, Securing evidence to conviction 157 

Prostitution, Compulsory 161 

Prostitution defined 155 

Prostitution, Male person living on proceeds of 162 

Prostitution, Tenement House 156-158 

Public morals 156 

Public nuisance defined 26-181 

Public Nuisance Maintaining 26-181 

Public Officers 27-127 

Public Safety 28 



Questions On : — 

Bail 53&54 

Law and Procedure 36 to 38, 73-76, 205-251 

& 249 to 251 

Ordinances 222 to 224 

" and answers 224 to 249 

Rules 239 to 249 



R 



Railway Laws 29-110 

Rape defined 53 

Rape Investigation of 154 

Rape of Children 154 

Receiving Stolen Goods 140 

Religious Meetings 69-1 

Reports 252-273 

Riots unlawful Assemblies, etc 30-106 

Robbery Differs from Extortion 134 

Robbery Element of 30-132 

Rules, Synopsis of Relative to : — 

Rules, Accidents cause by Vehicles 237 

Rules, Aided Cases , 237 

Rules, Arrests 238 

Rules, Commanding Officers 234 

Rules, Complaints 239 

Rules, Desk Officers 234 

Rules, Health 239 

Rules, Matrons . v 236 

Rules, Patrolmen 235 

Rules, Property 236 

Rules, Prisoners 238 

Rules, Sergeants 235 

Rules, Summonses 238 

Rules, Trials 239 

Rules, Questions on 239-249 

280 



Sabbath Laws 3 I " I 90 

Sabbath Laws, Serving Processes on Sunday 191 

Sabbath Laws, Theatrical performances 191 

Sanitary Code, Habit forming drugs 181 

Sanity 32 

Seduction, Federal Law on 155 

Seduction under promise of marriage 155 

Social Crimes . 148 

Slot Machines 169 

Speed permitted in New York City 200 

Stolen Goods, Received 140 

Strikes 35"io8 

Summons 108 

Subpoena , 72 

Suicide 31-100 

Suspicious places 159 



Tenement House prostitution 156-158 

Testimony, How to be given 61 

Testimony, Oral 63 

Threat, Letters, Sending 132 

Tramp defined 116 

Treason against State defined 31 

Trespass 33 



u 



Uniform, Unauthorized wearing of 146 

United States deserter, Arrest of 46 



V 

Vagrancy in tenement house 156 

Vagrants, Who are 115-155 

Voter, Qualifications of 195 



w 

Warrant, Bench 46 

Warrant, General provisions 45 

Warrant, Arrest on 45 

Warrant, Certificate Arrest on 46 

Warrant, Search 50 

Weapons, Dangerous Carrying of 28-101 



281 



